2026-05-07 –, Track 1
Decades of empirical research across disciplines reveal the pervasiveness of citation biases along axes of gender, race, geography, and epistemology. Who we cite reflects and reinforces both the boundaries and hierarchies of academic knowledge, shaping not only whose research is legitimized and valued but also whose careers are advanced. Citations, the currency of the academy with power to reinforce or dismantle hierarchies that privilege dominant knowledge systems cannot thus be a neutral, apolitical act. This workshop unpacks the concept of citation politics and its role in sustaining epistemic hierarchies within scholarly communities. We introduce a comprehensive and openly accessible Citational Justice Toolkit, developed by the FORRT community, which curates actionable resources, tools, and practices helping scholars and institutions to audit, diversify, and reflect on their citation practices across the research cycle. Our aim is to support a shift from tokenistic inclusion toward epistemically accountable, socially responsible, and structurally aware scholarship.
Helena Gellersen, Sara L. Middleton, Flavio Azevedo
Please classify your session as the theme it fits best in:: Incentives/Culture - Content related to the incentive structure of science, culture, and norms of science How will the session's content foster diversity & inclusion (e.g., who will present, who will it serve), and how will it improve psychological science?:The session content is focused on diversity and inclusion, specifically in the context of citation practice. It is presented by a researcher with experience in research with an EDI lens and is targeted at all researchers, helping them develop a more just citation practice in a meaningful and manageable way. It will improve psychological science by increasing recognition of otherwise marginalized work, which drives creativity and innovation, as well as benefit the careers of marginalized researchers, which in turn enriches the field.
Furthermore, the session delivery will be designed under the framework of universal design, with fully accessible content following guidelines for legibility and pace. It will be interactive, allowing participants to interact in a way that is comfortable for them, including using the mic or writing in the chat. Video cameras will be encouraged to increase engagement and interaction but not necessary.
No prior experience is needed
Sarah Sauve is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Lincoln and FORRT Director of Social Justice and DEIA. She led the development of the Citational Justice Toolkit and its associated pre-print. Her research and teaching is focused on doing science in a more just, equitable, transparent and inclusive way. She currently leads a BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grant on Improving diversity in social science curricula, implemented in the UK and Mexico.
How does our environment shape how we show up as individuals and connect with our communities? This question is at the root of Sara Middleton’s approach to research and teaching.
She has an interdisciplinary background in environmental sciences, science communication, community outreach and education. In her work as an Open Science educator at LMU, Munich, she strives to embed equity, social justice and Universal Design principles into the Open Science training materials she develops.
In her most recent work at FORRT, she led the development of the Academic Wheel of Privilege framework and has supported the development of the Citational Justice Toolkit.