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Tackling structural inequality in the research funding landscape

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A Durham-based funding scheme is pioneering an application and review process that enhances diversity and builds capacity.

Professor Rachel Kendal in the Department of Anthropology is leading a major international funding scheme (CES Transformation Fund) for researchers in Cultural Evolution. This was made possible by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation to Rachel on behalf of the Cultural Evolution Society (Rachel was President and is currently Past-President).

The scheme funds 16 Research Projects and four Applied Working Groups, with topics ranging from the evolution of music and human cooperation to tackle global challenges, to human-wildlife interactions, health and well-being, and amplifying marginalised voices through cultural evolution.

Professor Rachel Kendal (Project Leader and Principal Investigator), Lorna Winship (Grant Manager), Bella Reichard (Research Communications Manager), Dr Elena Miltiadis (Grant Administrator).
Professor Rachel Kendal (Project Leader and Principal Investigator), Lorna Winship (Grant Manager), Bella Reichard (Research Communications Manager), Dr Elena Miltiadis (Grant Administrator).

The funding scheme has equality, diversity and inclusion at its heart. Rachel and her team went to great lengths to support and acknowledge under-represented groups in the two-stage application process. Elena Miltiadis, Durham Anthropology PhD graduate and EDI Lead on the team, explains:

The grant scheme is built around four diversity objectives: enhancing opportunities for Early Career Researchers, extending geographical reach (where research takes place and who is funded), bringing in different disciplines, and increasing the application of research to tackle societal issues.

The application process implemented innovative practices, such as anonymous reviewing, offering mentoring to qualifying applicants, and providing a dedicated space for applicants to discuss and reflect on how each project and its team members addressed the scheme’s diversity objectives.

Rachel and Elena are preparing to share the principles and experience of this approach with other organisations in the hope that funding schemes will adopt them to proactively promote funding equity.

The funding scheme will conclude with a capstone conference in Durham, 12-13 September 2024, where the researchers will present their findings to academic and non-academic audiences.

Find out more:

Visit the grant website

Learn more about Rachel Kendal, Elena Miltiadis and the Durham Cultural Evolution Research Centre

 

 

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