Published:
This research paper examines the added value that diversity among researchers, both in terms of gender and cultural backgrounds, can bring to socially relevant science. The analysis focuses on research papers published in scientific journals and their social impact. This impact is measured on the one hand by the content's relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and on the other hand by the citation of scientific publications in political documents.
Preliminary results show that diversity alone does not automatically lead to more socially relevant research. Rather, the institutional framework conditions of scientific journals and discipline-specific evaluation standards determine which topics and perspectives are published and gain social visibility. A key finding of the study shows that in STEM subjects, there is a significant positive correlation between the diversity of research teams and the greater relevance of published work. In non-STEM disciplines, however, no such correlation can be demonstrated. The results provide important insights into the institutional conditions under which diversity in science can contribute to measurable societal impact.