British Academy aims to increase diversity

The national academy for the social sciences and humanities has pledged to bring down barriers preventing people from under-represented groups from progressing in academia and do more to engage outside of its traditional London base.

Amid ongoing debates in academia about minority representation, the British Academy’s strategy for 2018 to 2022 says the organisation will try to ensure there is both geographical and disciplinary diversity in the community it serves. As part of this, the academy will offer new funding streams targeted to “excellent researchers in under-represented groups in academia”.

The strategy—published on 20 November—also pledges to “take the academy out beyond its physical home in London to engage throughout the UK and beyond with those in higher education, policymaking and funding”.