Equity Champions study
EDICa has recruited a cohort of about 40 people from a variety of research & innovation disciplines, roles and career stages to participate in training.
Equity Champions
Upskilling leaders in research & innovation
The EDI Caucus is an ambitious project which is assessing the UK’s Research & Innovation (R&I) ecosystem. We are developing advice, interventions, training and support with the aim of delivering a thriving, diverse and inclusive R&I ecosystem that benefits from the widest range of talents.
As part of the project, we recruited a cohort of 40 Equity Champions to support Workstream 2, which focuses on the Research Process – click here to read more.
We looked for people from a range of disciplines and settings, those who have lived experience of minoritisation and those who don’t. Some examples of relevant experience included:
- Those with experience in successfully applying for funding
- Those with experience of non-university research or innovation settings.
- Those with experience of peer-review processes, for example in the evaluation of research bids or the editorial oversight of publication processes.
- Those who are keen to see more diversity in the R&I community
In autumn of 2023 we called for expressions of interest for people to be Equity Champions. We selected people primarily to ensure we have a broad range of representation, looking at type of institution (post-92, Russell Group, etc); geographical location (Scotland, Wales, England, N Ireland); funder covered by research (BBSRC, NERC, MRC, etc); career level; sector (private, academia, charity, government); links with stakeholders (unions, publishers, funders, professional bodies, etc); experience with large grant funding; and then basic demographics like gender and disability.
Peer Review Bias
Workstream 2 has produced a report on Peer Review Bias in Funding.
Click here for more on this project.
Check out EDICa’s resources
EDICa hosts a regular blog and seminars, as well as collecting a library of resources of equality, diversity & inclusion practices in research & innovation.
Peer Review Bias Seminar Recording
Published 23 April 2024
Watch/listen to a panel discussing peer review bias in the funding process.
Interventions Seminar Recording
Date: 22nd May 2024
In May EDICa hosted a panel of funder representatives and researchers to discuss alternative methods of assessing funding applications. Access the recording here.
Peer Review Bias in Funding
Date: 4th April 2024
EDICa publishes a report on Peer Review Bias in Funding. Read some highlights.
