Evidence and analysis of EDI in EPSRC activities

Contents

Overview

Collecting and analysing both quantitative and qualitative diversity-related data from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) portfolio of activities is a key component of our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy. We use diversity data to monitor policy implementation and identify areas of concern or under-representation.

It is important for EPSRC to have a strong understanding of the diversity of our portfolio, as we support approximately one-third of the engineering and physical sciences (EPS) population at any given time. Any changes we make have the potential to have a large influence on the EPS community.

The outputs of evaluations and investigations we have conducted to date are detailed on these pages.

Inclusive applicant pre-selection processes: good practice examples

Over summer 2024 we brought together university colleagues from across the UK to share their strategies for promoting diversity and inclusion in university pre-selection processes for funding applications.

The feedback on different experiences and examples of inclusive practices used to select applicants will inform the next stage of building a repository of good practices.

Read the full report Gathering good practices for inclusive university selection processes

Collaboration with the Royal Statistical Society and Alan Turing Institute

We have partnered with the Royal Statistical Society and Alan Turing Institute to conduct a detailed analysis of our peer review data over a 10-year period. This exploratory report, published independently by the Royal Statistical Society, has revealed new insights into our portfolio data.

Peer review participation

We have published diversity data to highlight the progress made to date to improve diversity in our peer review process, and the opportunities to continue to work with our communities to make further improvements. The data was published in response to a growing community interest in this information.

Explore EPSRC’s peer review diversity data

UKRI diversity data

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed to annually publishing diversity data for seven research councils.

Find data and trends on the diversity of funding applicants and recipients for each research council

This analysis looks at grants by number of applications. Grant data by value is also available in the UKRI Tableau dashboards

Last updated: 23 May 2025

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