Andrew Griffith, Minister of State for Science and Research, said councils must spend money responsibly. Photo: RACHEL ADAMS
Government developments Grants body is committing millions of pounds to initiatives supporting diversity, equality and inclusion, The Telegraph reports.
The minister raised concerns about the “woke agenda” on Saturday after , how the Taxpayers' Alliance found that the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) was donating to projects researching, among other things, the “specific gender needs” of men and issues of “urban gentrification.”
Another grant of £1,740,300 was aimed at studying equal access to human rights justice around the world. The grants were discovered by the Taxpayers' Alliance.
EPSRC, part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a non-departmental government body, promotes “knowledge in the engineering and physical sciences for the UK's ability to benefit society and the economy”, — says the website.
The government has repeatedly signaled its impatience with the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion in government.
However, it is clear that ministers have little practical power to influence the decision-making of grant bodies such as the EPSRC. .
UKRI has come under repeated criticism for its funding decisions in recent years.
The Telegraph previously reported that she also funded a PhD on the subject of “Growing Up Homosexuals” in the 19th century. as a PhD candidate on 'How gardens can develop queer anti-racist communities'.
New EPSRC grants include one of £1,740,824 over five years to Queen Mary University of London to better understand political representation men.
The grant application states that “men have specific gender needs that intersect with their other traits.”
It is a question of whether “elite” men in charge power, disadvantage less elite groups, as well as women.
“MENSREP opens up an entirely new area of research, offers much-needed information to counter extremist movements, and has the potential to address major policy challenges,” the proposal states.
The project explores equal access to human rights, led by University College London, received a similar amount of £1,740,300.
Cities in 15 minutes
Meanwhile, the Simply 15 Minute City initiative will look for ways to offer “efficient access to city amenities.” within 15 minutes' walking or cycling.”
The Oxford Brookes University project, which has received a grant of £206,085 over two years, will aim to tackle issues of 'gentrification', 'mismanagement' ” and “urban inequality.”
Andrew Griffith, Minister of State for Science and Research, said: “At a time when taxpayers are spending record amounts on research at our universities, it is vital that funding councils such as the EPSRC spend that money wisely.< /p>
“I will definitely want to hear [from them] how the funding board, which makes individual decisions on research grants, believes that these projects help develop the economy or achieve the goals of the government's science and technology program. Taxpayer money should not be used to fund “woke” agendas.
Ministers are currently in the process of recruiting UKRI's next chief executive.
It is understood that responsible use of public money and alignment of spending decisions with public policy will be key criteria in this process.
Elliot Keck, campaign director for the Taxpayers Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be horrified that the 'woke agenda' is infiltrating serious research organizations.
“The Engineering Council should fund cutting-edge research that advances scientific knowledge, and not the kind of nonsense that dominates the humanities and social sciences.”
” Ministers must use every power available to them to force these increasingly fraudulent research organizations to account for the huge amounts of taxpayers' money they spend.”
UKRI has previously addressed this issue, stating that they are “investing in a diverse portfolio of research and innovation.”
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