A stark reality confronts the UK's research community: despite comprising 51% of the workforce, women are woefully underrepresented in STEM fields, making up just 16% of the top universities' employees. The Women in Research Charter seeks to address this glaring disparity by committing funders and research performing organisations to take concrete action.
Collaboration between leading research funders, universities, and industry partners has yielded the charter, which aims to increase female participation, tackle bias, and foster inclusive cultures within research institutions. The Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, and British Heart Foundation are among those signing up to the voluntary commitment.
The charter's actions for research funders and performing organisations include setting women's participation targets, providing training on unconscious bias, and implementing inclusive recruitment practices. Regular monitoring and reporting of progress will also be key to improving outcomes for women in research.
Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, stressed the importance of equality: 'We want every individual – regardless of background or identity – to have the opportunity to succeed in research.'
The launch has been hailed as a step forward by campaigners who have long called for greater diversity and inclusion within the UK research sector.