NERC addresses concerns over lack of fellowships for women

Council says it takes fairness seriously despite no women winning Independent Research Fellowships in 2019

The Natural Environment Research Council has attempted to reassure researchers after it emerged that none of the candidates awarded Independent Research Fellowships in 2019 were women.

In an open letter dated 28 September, Susan Waldron, director of research and skills at NERC, said the research council took fairness in grant processes “seriously” and had “reviewed carefully” the outcome of the 2019 fellowship round, as well as previous ones.