On Thursday 22nd May the EDI committee hosted a talk on “Why Do We Need Diversity in Research Software Engineering?” by the Software Sustainability Institute Fellows Deborah Udoh (OLS) https://www.software.ac.uk/fellowship-programme/deborah-udoh and Olexandr Konovalov (St Andrews) https://www.software.ac.uk/fellowship-programme/olexandr-konovalov. On display we had a collection of posters designed by students to promote and raise awareness of EDI aspects, and celebrate cultural differences in the School and in our discipline. This was accompanied by coffee and cakes.

This talk was the story of two members of the global research software community whose paths converged thanks to the Software Sustainability Institute. One a Ukrainian mathematician and computer scientist in Scotland, the other a Nigerian nurse in tech – they are from vastly different backgrounds, but share more in common than meets the eye, and have already begun to shape an inclusive future for researchers from all walks of life.

Through lived experiences, they explored the real-world barriers they faced – from underrepresentation and visa limitations to the invisible weight of imposter syndrome — and the communities and infrastructures that helped them keep going: OLS, the Carpentries, and the SSI.

They spoke of using their platforms to build better pathways into research and research software engineering, especially for those who never imagined they belonged in these spaces, and how institutions, allies, and community members play an active role in creating more equitable, mentally healthy spaces — and why your involvement matters.