The Springer Nature Group (also Springer Nature) is a global publishing company with a focus on science and education-related materials. 1 Springer Nature’s subsidiaries include Scientific American, Nature, and MacMillan Education. 2 3
Springer Nature considers the critical race theory-influenced concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as one of its “highest strategic priorities,” actively promotes DEI priorities across the company and through its publications, and considers DEI as “essential” to achieving its mission. 4 5 6 The group also promotes the United Nations’ left-of-center sustainable development goals (SDGs) and left-of-center gender and LGBT ideologies in its content. 7 8 9
Springer Nature is controlled by the Holdbrinck Publishing Group, a German publishing house that is committed to the left-of-center concepts of equity and inclusion in its publications and within its media group. 5
History and Leadership
The Springer Nature Group was created in May 2015 after the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Union approved the merger of the Nature Publishing Group, the majority of Macmillan Science and Education, and Springer Science+Business Media. 1 10
Springer Nature is controlled by the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a German publisher that holds a 53 percent share of Springer Nature. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, 11 Springer Nature is one of the largest publishers of research and education content. 12 The publisher’s U.S. offices are located in New York, New York; Jersey City, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. 13 14
The Holtzbrinck Publishing Group has stated that it values the critical race theory-influenced concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and has committed to the left-wing concepts of equity and inclusion in its publications and within its media group. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group has stated that its companies, including Springer Nature, Macmillan, and Pan Macmillan, promote equal opportunity and inclusion. 5 It has also said that the far-left concepts of unconscious bias, diversity, and inclusion are “integral parts” of its leadership training. 5 British company BC Partners holds a 47 percent share of Springer Nature. 1
Frank Vrancken Peeters has been the CEO of Springer Nature since September 2019. 15
Activities
Springer Nature’s subsidiaries include the left-of-center Scientific American, Nature, Macmillan Education, and others. 16 3 17 The organization runs an Advancing Futures Program, which helps teachers introduce left-of-center topics such as global citizenship and sustainability in the classroom. It also introduces the far-left concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion into classrooms. 14
Ideology
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Springer Nature has stated that the critical race theory-influenced concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as one of its “highest strategic priorities.” The organization actively promotes DEI priorities across the company and through its publications and activities. It has called DEI “essential” to achieving its mission and is committed to championing DEI in its networks and brands. 4
Springer Nature helped open Nature’s “racism” issue, which claimed science has a “toxic” legacy of racism. 14 6
Springer Nature’s hiring strategy includes “equitable recruitment and succession” as well as representation goals in leadership and talent development that recognizes the left-wing concept of “structural inequity.” 4 It also supports DEI in research publishing, including the left-wing concept of “unconscious bias.” 18
Springer Nature’s DEI focus includes eight employee networks with more than 1,400 members and 35 local chapters. It is a signatory to the Publishers Association’s 10-point Inclusivity Action Plan and the Joint Commitment for Action on Inclusion and Diversity in Publishing. 4 In 2022, Springer Nature organized more than 50 DEI-related events and authored 75 blog posts on the topic. 4
Gender and LGBT Ideology
Springer Nature promotes self-identification with nonstandard personal pronouns. During 2020’s Transgender Awareness Week, Springer Nature’s LGBT pride group 7 highlighted the organization’s new guide to personal pronouns. 7
Springer Nature often highlights LGBT pride-related content 19 and has adopted what it calls a transgender-inclusive name change policy. This policy enables all transgender authors to update their names on the version of record of all Springer Nature-related publications. 20
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Springer Nature works to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its publications. 14 Its Sustainable Development Goals Programme aims to connect researchers with policymakers and business professionals to collaborate on SDG-specific work. 9
References
- “About Us.” Springer Nature Group. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://group.springernature.com/jp/group/about-us.
- [1] “Community Stories.” Springer Nature Group. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://group.springernature.com/gp/group.
- “Home.” Nature. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.nature.com/.
- “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.” Springer Nature Group. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion.
- “Our Values.” Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://holtzbrinck-careers.com/en/our-values/diversity.html.
- “Racism: Overcoming science’s toxic legacy.” Nature. October 20, 2022. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.nature.com/immersive/d42859-022-00031-8/index.html.
- “The importance of personal pronouns at Springer Nature.” Springer Nature. June 15, 2021. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.springernature.com/jp/researchers/the-source/blog/blogposts-life-in-research/the-importance-of-personal-pronouns-at-springer-nature/19221336.
- “Springer Name introduces trans inclusive name change policy.” Springer Nature Group. June 29, 2021. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://group.springernature.com/jp/group/media/press-releases/springer-nature-introduces-trans-inclusive-name-change-policy/19305714.
- “The Sustainable Development Goals Programme.” Springer Nature. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/sdg-programme.
- “SPRINGER NATURE created following merger completion.” Springer. May 6, 2015. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.springer.com/gp/about-springer/media/press-releases/corporate/springer-nature-created-following-merger-completion/256626.
- “Springer Nature Headquarters and Office Locations.” Craft. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://craft.co/springer-nature/locations#:~:text=Springer%20Nature%20is%20headquartered%20in,and%20has%2069%20office%20locations.
- [1] “Our Values.” Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://holtzbrinck-careers.com/en/our-values/diversity.html
- “Americas.” Springer Nature Group. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://group.springernature.com/jp/group/about-us/locations-contact/americas.
- “Championing Progress.” Springer Nature Group. 2022 Annual Report. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://annualreport.springernature.com/2022/files/annual-progress-report-2022.pdf.
- “Executive Team.” Springer Nature Group. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/about-us/executive-team.
- “Community Stories.” Springer Nature Group. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://group.springernature.com/gp/group.
- “About Scientific American.” Scientific American. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/about-scientific-american/#:~:text=Scientific%20American%20is%20published%20by,Research%2C%20BMC%20and%20Palgrave%20Macmillan.
- “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” Springer Nature. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/campaigns/dei-insights.
- [1] “SN Pride – Highlighted Content.” Springer Nature. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.springernature.com/jp/researchers/sdg-programme/sdg10/pride/articles-chapters.
- [1] “Springer Name introduces trans inclusive name change policy.” Springer Nature Group. June 29, 2021. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://group.springernature.com/jp/group/media/press-releases/springer-nature-introduces-trans-inclusive-name-change-policy/19305714.