Diversity and inclusion in STEM

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 22 Nov 2021 Closed: 19 Feb 2024 Parliament page
There is evidence to suggest that women, certain ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds are underrepresented in education, training and employment related to STEM . While there is significant variation in rates of progression and outcomes across ethnic minority groups, research shows that ethnic minority … Read more
17 Recommendations
9 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
3 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
16 Jun
2023
Report published
24 Mar
2023
Report published
16 Nov
2022
Correspondence
14 Jul
2022
Correspondence
30 Jun
2022
Correspondence
15 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
15 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
18 May
2022
Oral evidence
18 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
27 Apr
2022
Oral evidence
27 Apr
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
16 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
15 Jun 2022
View on parliament.uk
George Freeman MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Gillian Unsworth · Equality Hub Kemi Badenoch · Government Equalities Office Marcus Bell · Equality Hub Mr Robin Walker · Department for Education Paul Kett · Department for Education Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser DBE FRS · UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
18 May 2022
View on parliament.uk
Clare Hayes · Hyndland Secondary School Dr Claire Crawford · Institute for Fiscal Studies Dr Jasper Green · Institute of Education Jane Lunnon · Alleyn's School Mark Turner · Skipton High School for Girls Professor Dame Athene Donald · University of Cambridge Professor Ulrike Tillmann · London Mathematical Society Rachel Youngman · Institute of Physics
27 Apr 2022
View on parliament.uk
Dr Gayle Brewer · University of Liverpool and National Association of Disabled Staff Networks Dr Izzy Jayasinghe · School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, and LGBTQ+ STEM Dr Jasleen Jolly · Anglia Ruskin University and National Association of Disabled Staff Networks Dr Katie Perry · The Daphne Jackson Trust Katharine Birbalsingh CBE · Social Mobility Commission Katherine Sparkes MBE · Lightyear Foundation
16 Mar 2022
View on parliament.uk
Claudenia Williams · Kingsley Academy Professor Narender Ramnani · Royal Holloway University of London Professor Rachel Oliver FREng · University of Cambridge and The Inclusion Group for Equity in Research and STEMM Russell Hobby · Teach First Sam Freedman · The Institute for Government
23 Feb 2022
View on parliament.uk
Clare Viney · Careers Research Advisory Centre-Vitae Dr Anna Zecharia · Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Science and Health (EDIS) Dr Jake Anders · UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities Dr Rebecca Montacute · Sutton Trust Katherine Mathieson · British Science Association Professor Jeremy Sanders CBE FRS · Royal Society
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Diversity and Inclusion in STEM HC 95 24 Mar 2023 26 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Diversity and Inclu…
Improved data collection and the application of lessons from it are key to addressing under-representation.
Improved data collection and the application of lessons from it are key to addressing under-representation. We welcome the biannual Research and Innovation workforce survey being led by BEIS, and the Government’s recognition of the need to better capture the diversity … Read more
Government Response
The government's response only mentions its ambition on STEM, without addressing the specific recommendation to set out how it plans to make the Research and Innovation workforce survey meaningfully useful or to include an action plan with the forthcoming results.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
13 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Diversity and Inclu…
We recommend as an alternative to compulsion the introduction of a requirement for pupils who...
We recommend as an alternative to compulsion the introduction of a requirement for pupils who do not continue with a STEM subject post-16 to take the Advanced Mathematical Support Programme or a Core Science course. Core Science could be developed … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the recommendation verbatim without providing a response.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
18 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Diversity and Inclu…
The Government should consider what support it could offer to initiatives such as Now Teach,...
The Government should consider what support it could offer to initiatives such as Now Teach, which draw upon experienced professionals to help meet STEM teacher recruitment challenges and to inspire a more diverse range of pupils to continue with STEM … Read more
Government Response
The response focuses on female representation in STEM subjects at A level, which does not address the recommendation about supporting initiatives such as Now Teach to help meet STEM teacher recruitment challenges.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
19 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Diversity and Inclu…
The Government, UK Research and Innovation and other research funders should make funding available for...
The Government, UK Research and Innovation and other research funders should make funding available for research facilities undertaking reasonable adjustments to ensure they are fully accessible. (Paragraph 127) Diversity and inclusion in STEM 53
Government Response
The response focuses on female representation in STEM subjects at A level, which does not address the recommendation about funding for research facilities to undertake reasonable adjustments to ensure they are fully accessible.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
20 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Diversity and Inclu…
Some STEM researchers face a discriminatory working environment.
Some STEM researchers face a discriminatory working environment. Whilst this reflects inequities that exist elsewhere in society it is nevertheless a source of deep concern. The process of reducing and ultimately ending such prejudice will not be swift but is … Read more
Government Response
The response focuses on statistics about Asian, Black, Mixed and Other ethnic group UK pupils in STEM courses, and does not address the discriminatory working environment faced by some STEM researchers.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
21 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Diversity and Inclu…
Our inquiry received evidence that highlighted the importance of addressing as a matter of urgency...
Our inquiry received evidence that highlighted the importance of addressing as a matter of urgency the precarious nature of many contracts in STEM academia. We examined these issues in greater depth as part of our inquiry into reproducibility and research … Read more
Government Response
The response focuses on statistics about Asian, Black, Mixed and Other ethnic group UK pupils in STEM courses, and does not address the issue of precarious contracts in STEM academia.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 17 classified
Accepted 9
Acknowledged 11
Not Addressed 6
Total 17 recs + 9 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
16 Nov 2022 Correspondence from the committee to the Secretary of state relating to Diversity and Inclusion in STEM maths funding
Parliament page
14 Jul 2022 Correspondence from the Science Minister relating to diversity and inclusion in STEM and Horizon Europe
Parliament page
30 Jun 2022 Correspondence to the Science Minister relating to diversity and inclusion in STEM and Horizon Europe
Parliament page