Enabling environments support the development of diverse teams

For the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to work with enabling technologies that free scientists to do more with their time. This role with the robots suits my preferred working style exactly. I love the combination of an extreme fast pace, working on 10 different chemistries at once, and the opportunities to constantly interact with an international web of colleagues from different walks of life.

A great working environment has the same effects on scientists as the enabling robotics do on the research and development work. Opinions on what constitutes an enabling environment represent every extreme of personality type, but diversity typically signifies a favourable one. I benefit from discussing plans with colleagues as we try to develop the strongest possible final product, and there’s little point in bouncing ideas off further clones of myself. The best projects appear to come from collaboration between those with completely different backgrounds and ways of working. This brings up an obvious issue: is ensuring a strong and supportive environment for every member of a diverse team the same as trying to please all of the people all of the time?