A long-awaited strategy that aims to combat the under-representation of black people in research has been criticised as vague and lacking in accountability by campaigners.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s first equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy, finally published last month, had been expected to translate commitments made by the funder in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 into concrete policies, and provide a coherent action plan to tackle what its leaders called the “more subtle forms [of racism] that keep black people out of the room”.
UKRI published an unusually hard-hitting statement, signed by every British research council chair, as Black Lives Matter protests were held across the world almost three years ago.
It promised to “reflect on whether we as individuals, and as a community, are doing enough to eradicate racism”. And it said there would be a “renewed dedication” to listen to those fighting racial under-representation in research in its “work to address our structures…and the ways that we may be perpetuating problems – in terms of who we represent, who we invite to the table, who we partner with and fund”.
