Launching the ESRS EDIC Book Club: Join Our First Edition!

The ESRS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC) is excited to launch a new initiative designed to bring our community together around meaningful conversations: the EDIC Book Club. This quarterly discussion series creates a welcoming space for ESRS members to explore books that shed light on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in science and society, reflecting on how these themes connect to sleep research and our wider scientific community.

The idea is simple: every three months, we select a book that offers fresh perspectives on how people experience the world differently and what these differences mean for fairness, representation and participation in science. Our first book will be Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez, a powerful collection of stories and evidence showing how missing or biased data can shape daily life in unexpected ways.

The EDIC Book Club is open to all ESRS members regardless of their background, career stage or prior knowledge. You do not need expertise in EDI to join, just curiosity and the willingness to engage with new ideas.

Each book cycle includes two complementary elements:

1. A live online discussion on Zoom with YouTube streaming (1 hour)

Every three months, we will meet on Zoom for a guided conversation. A rotating moderator from the EDIC team will introduce the book and highlight why the topic matters for our field. We then move into a thematic discussion based on a few key questions, followed by an open dialogue where everyone is invited to share reflections, personal experiences or take-home messages. We close with a summary and reveal the theme for the following edition, inviting everyone to select the next book to be discussed.

2. An asynchronous online forum on LinkedIn

To keep the conversation going before and after each meeting, we will host an open discussion space on our social networks (LinkedIn and Bluesky). In a dedicated private LinkedIn group, members can post thoughts while reading, share related articles, pose questions or react to others’ comments. This format recognises that many colleagues may prefer slower-paced engagement or may not be able to attend the live event. After each live discussion, we will encourage participants to suggest and vote for the next edition book via the LinkedIn group.

Our goal with the EDIC Book Club is to strengthen community, spark thoughtful conversations and build awareness of how EDI issues affect scientific practice and culture. Whether you are passionate about EDI or simply want to learn more, we invite you to join us on the 12^th September at 4 pm CET. Happy reading!