Today we launched the Black Researcher Consortium (BRC).
The BRC is a new strategic approach designed by Black researchers and Black-led organisations to combat the underrepresentation of Black researchers in the UK. The Consortium is being developed in collaboration with eight major organisations from across the world of research to drive change and address the gap in provision for Black researchers.
The Consortium will focus on the progression and retention of researchers with Black heritage*. This move comes in response to data showing startling underrepresentation of Black individuals in research positions. Black people make up 4% of the country’s working-age population. Whilst Black students earn 8% of the UK domiciled undergraduate student population places, they are less likely to start a postgraduate degree, making up 5% of postgraduate researchers. This has increased from 4% in the last 3 years. Black academics are underrepresented in UK HE (around 3% of all academic staff, and of early-career staff, but thought to be lower amongst postdoctoral researchers). Fewer than 1% of professors are Black (equating to just 140 UK-domiciled Black Professors).
The Black Researcher Consortium is being developed to take a comprehensive approach to bridge the gap in provision for existing and potential Black researchers by bringing together Black-led organisations and community groups, Black early career researchers, and researchers in academia and industry, to create an infrastructure which supercharges existing provision, specifically by:
● addressing the gaps in support for Black researchers, including opportunities for networking, mentorship, and skill development;
● enhancing access, opportunities, and training for Black researchers across academia, industry, government, and other sectors;
● serving as a valuable resource for organisations, research institutions, and universities seeking expert advice on fostering inclusivity and diversity in research environments.
By shining a light on, collaborating with, and amplifying the existing provision by Black-led organisations for Black researchers, the Consortium seeks to create a more equitable and inclusive research landscape in the UK.
With seed funding through The Elsevier Foundation and Vitae, the BRC is collaborating with the four National Academies (Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society), plus UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Wellcome Trust. Together, their funding secures the future of the BRC until at least 2030.
The interim and founding board of directors (Donna Otchere Wayne A Mitchell Rachel Welch-Phillips Dr Lateesha Osbourne Professor Dr Nira Chamberlain OBE FIMA FORS CSci PhD HonDSc DUniv Paulette Williams Lenna Cumberbatch) will now commence an open recruitment process to identify the first Consortium Director. Follow us to be notified when the job description and listing go live #BlackResearchers
