Inspired by a university-wide commitment initiated in 2020 by President Gregory L. Fenves to address racial and social justice, a new funding opportunity aims to promote racial justice and equity by supporting Emory faculty research projects that will contribute to the eradication of inequities in society.
Standard grants are $150,000 spread over three years; a small number of special projects will be considered for up to $300,000 total over three years. The funding, made available by the Office of the Provost, follows a previously-announced grant opportunity focused on social justice and the socially engaged arts.
“From life expectancy to social mobility, we know racial inequity impacts us at every level,” says Ravi Bellamkonda, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Supporting our world-class scholars in researching this topic is just one example of how Emory is committed to addressing issues of racial and social justice.”
Emory is now accepting proposals from all current, full-time members of the faculty whose research, scholarly efforts and creative activities address racial justice and/or racial equity. Proposals should be submitted to Emory’s InfoReady system by Jan. 31, 2023.
“These grants aim to contribute to both our understanding and the disruption and dismantling of persistent cycles of inequity and injustice that affect significant aspects of life in our society,” says Carol Henderson, vice provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. “It’s fitting that Emory, an institution committed to applying knowledge in the service of humanity, elevates and supports research by scholars who attend to humanity’s most pressing and persistent challenges.”
Possible research topics include, but are not limited to:
- democracy and civil rights
- the potential and limitations of science and technology
- environmental justice and climate change
- global affairs
- the arts as a force for justice
- impacts of racism and discrimination on health and/or biology
- interventions, improvements, or solutions to address disparities and injustice
Research projects should be rigorous, impact-oriented scholarship. To obtain the full three years of funding, researchers must show sufficient progress and achievement of proposed milestones each year.
A review committee comprising Emory faculty members will evaluate the proposals and make recommendations to Office of the Provost leadership, which will select the final projects to fund. The number of awards has not been determined. More details about eligibility, budget and submission information are available in the request for proposals.
This funding opportunity supports the Office of the President’s enterprise-wide commitment to racial and social justice, which include plans for twin memorials on the Atlanta and Oxford campuses to honor enslaved individuals who helped build the university, as well as a language path and remembrance rituals to highlight Muscogee language and knowledge. In January 2022, the university released a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Planning Report, which outlines a blueprint for justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.