NERC pledges action to address inequality

Promise comes after researchers say funder has “clear role” in driving change in environmental sciences

The head of the Natural Environment Research Council has pledged to do more to improve equality and diversity at his funder, after a report urged the organisation to take a deep look at its current procedures.

The promise came after NERC published a report from a series of discussion groups with researchers from across the environmental sciences, which said the council should use its position as a national funder of research to improve the culture of the sector. In particular, the report notes a strong feeling that the council should “stop relying on people exposing their trauma repeatedly before action is taken”.