Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Energy Research Community

Deadline: 04-Nov-21

The UK Research and Innovation is seeking applications for projects related to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Energy Research Community.

What they’re looking for?

The academic energy research community has a key role to play in facilitating the growth and development of the wider clean energy sector. To best serve the interests of all stakeholders and benefit the broadest audience, a Network Plus funded through this opportunity will need to include the insights, ideas and experiences of the most diverse set of voices possible.
Working towards a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible research community will contribute to a more varied and better-informed research programme. In turn, this will contribute to a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society.
EPSRC recognises that there is much work going on in this space across the energy sector, in both academia and industry. However, this work is often disconnected across the energy research landscape.
This funding opportunity is therefore for a single Network Plus grant on EDI in the energy community in order to promote cohesion across the research community.

Funding Information

The EPSRC Energy and Decarbonisation theme wishes to support one Network Plus investment. Up to £1 million of EPSRC funding is available, and EPSRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost. The full economic cost of individual proposals is therefore limited to £1.25 million. The award will be for a project of between 36 and 48 months duration.

Eligibility Criteria

This is a Network Plus grant and is open to researchers at:
- UK higher education institutions
- UK research council institutes
- UKRI-approved independent research organisations
- eligible public sector research establishments
- NHS bodies with research capacity.
The principal investigator must currently be doing one of the following:
- working within the energy community with a track record of working on EDI projects
- working on EDI related research with a track record of working on promoting positive research culture.
They would welcome a diverse set of investigators to provide energy and EDI links across the remit of UKRI. The role of each co-investigator should be carefully justified. No more than eight co-investigators should be included in the application.
They strongly encourage more junior academics and those with non-traditional backgrounds to apply.
Individuals may only appear as an investigator on one application.
Individuals based in non-UK countries that can contribute to the Network Plus can be involved in the grant as project partners, members of the management or advisory boards, and so on. However, they are not eligible to be investigators.
Inclusion of project partners in the application is encouraged, to demonstrate the relationships that the network will develop and wider community engagement with the proposed activity.
You can apply if you are resident in the UK and meet at least one of these criteria:
- hold a permanent contract at the submitting research organisation, in a role at or above lecturer level or equivalent
- hold a fixed-term contract at the submitting research organisation:
  - in a role at or above lecturer level or equivalent
  - that extends beyond the duration of the proposed research project
  - where the host research organisation is prepared to offer support commensurate with that afforded to a permanent employee.