Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Fund
The Society is committed to the principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and to creating a community and culture in which they are embedded across all activities.
This fund provides support for Members to run activities that address these principles.
Applications close on 18 May 2026 at 23:59 BST.
Who can apply?
Any Undergraduate & Masters, Postgraduate, Full member or Fellow of the Physiological Society in their second year of membership, or longer.
Associate members are not eligible to apply.
How much funding is available?
Members can apply up to £1000.
What can the funding be used for?
Applications for activities must aim to promote and champion equity, diversity, or inclusion, for example by:
- Raising awareness and promoting understanding of unconscious bias, stereotype threat, microaggressions, and inclusive teaching practices.
- Developing targeted outreach and recruitment strategies, to attract individuals from underrepresented groups to the field of physiology.
- Developing mentorship and networking programs.
- Showcasing diverse role models and perspectives.
Examples of delivery:
- Producing a resource or providing training for faculty, staff, and students on equity, diversity, and inclusion topics.
- Partnering with community organisations, schools, and professional societies to promote awareness of physiology as a career option.
- Establishing mentorship and networking programs that pair individuals from underrepresented groups with mentors who can provide guidance, support, and career advice.
- Creating visibility campaigns, feature articles, and social media posts showcasing the achievements and contributions of diverse leaders in the field.
What are the deadlines?
Applications for 2026 are now open!
Applications close on 18 May 2026 at 23:59 BST.
How do I apply?
Applications close on 18 May 2026 at 23:59 BST.
Applications will be assessed against the scoring criteria by the Society’s EDI Committee.
Read more about the Society’s commitments to Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.
Terms and conditions
- Successful applicants will arrange for their institution to issue an invoice to The Society, for the payment of funds. The award cannot be paid direct to an individual/personal account.
- Funds must be used within 6 months of the award date.
- Funding cannot be used to support salary costs or to attend conferences.
- Resources and/or conference presentations should acknowledge the Society’s support. As standard this should feature our logo accompanied by the words ‘Supported by’.
- Activity outputs cannot be used for commercial gain.
- Successful applicants will be asked to submit a report including a financial audit of spending no later than three months after the activity has been completed. If such a report is not submitted the holder will be deemed ineligible for any other funding from The Physiological Society. Any funds not used must be returned to The Society.
- Successful applicants will also be asked to submit any material i.e., photographs, questionnaires collected from the project to demonstrate impact.
Past projects
View all the projects we have supported through the EDI Fund
2025 recipients:
- Igniting Minds: A Physiology Outreach Program for Uteh Community Secondary School Students – Mrs. Anwuli Ogbe, University of Benin, Nigeria
- Leave No One Behind Outreach: Ensuring Inclusivity in Science for Underrepresented Minorities in Saskatoon and the surrounding area – Dr. Olamide Adebiyi, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
- A Mentorship Programme for Black and Ethnic Minority Students from Widening Participation backgrounds in Biosciences – Dr. Chinedu Agwu, Brunel University of London, UK
- Women’s Health Symposium – Dr. Sophie Harrison, Bangor University, UK
Equity Diversity and Inclusion Fund Applicant Checklist
Applicant Checklist
Equity Diversity and Inclusion Fund Applicant Checklist
| To be eligible to apply for this award you must: | |||
| Be an Undergraduate & Masters, Postgraduate, Full member or Fellow of the Physiological Society in their second year of membership, or longer. | ☐ | ||
| Before completing the application form make sure you have: | |||
| Read through the scoring rubric and scoring criteria thoroughly. Your application will be assessed against these criteria. | ☐ | ||
| When formulating your application do you have? | |||
| Provided well-defined objectives and measurable outcomes | ☐ | ||
| The Equity Diversity and Inclusion Fund is intended for projects that directly investigate or address inclusion and diversity issues in the physiological sciences in either teaching or research. Have you provided strong evidence of the fund’s aims? | ☐ | ||
| Has the proposal been fully budgeted and demonstrated an appropriate timeline and use of resources? | ☐ | ||
| Has the proposal demonstrated an appropriate mechanism for measuring the outcomes and impact of your proposed project? | ☐ | ||
| Has the proposal included everything in the scoring rubric and scoring criteria document? | ☐ | ||
| Top Tip: | |||
| Be careful using AI: Generative AI can be a very useful tool, especially when English is not your first language, but make sure that your application represents your authentic voice. | AI tools may assist with preparing applications, but they must be used carefully and transparently. Applicants are responsible for declaring any AI use and for verifying the accuracy of all content submitted. | ||