Writing Strong EDI Statements for Research Funding
Time & Venue:
Who should attend
Researchers and research-active staff at all stages of their career development who are looking to strenghten their research grant applications.
Outline
This session provides a very practical overview of how to integrate Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) into research proposals in ways that meet funder expectations, strengthen project design, and ensure meaningful inclusive impact.
We will begin by defining what inclusive research is and what major funders typically look for in EDI and inclusive research statements, drawing on examples such as Horizon Europe’s requirements for integrating gender and diversity considerations in the grant applications. Participants will gain practical insights into what distinguishes a strong statement from a weak one. Topics that will be discussed include
- Inclusive participant recruitment strategies
- Accessible and adaptable research methodologies, including co-creation workshops
- Designing inclusive studies which embed EDI across the entire project, including research team composition and recruitment
- Avoiding tokenism
- Enhancing interdisciplinarity
Throughout the session, practical examples will be shared—drawing from strong EDI sections used in successful grant applications and from widely recognised best‑practice models in the research landscape. These examples will help participants recognise clear, funder‑aligned language and effective framing.
Facilitators
Dr Sara Clavero, Senior Research Fellow and Principal Investigator