OU Calls for Proposals to Study Inequities in Academic Research, Creative Activities

NORMAN, OKLA. – The Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships announces a call for proposals that address inequities in academic research and creative activity.

“We live in a time when social injustice continues unabated,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, vice president for research and partnerships. “Unfortunately, such injustices and inequities are ever present in the world of academic research, with what to most observers would appear to be little to no progress over the last few decades or projected for the future.”

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships, with the OU Center for Faculty Excellence, will review proposals that “present compelling research ideas, approaches and solutions to address contemporary issues related to inequities in the academic research and creative activity enterprise, such as discrimination and implicit bias related to race, gender, class, age, sexual orientation and disabilities, particularly in disciplines and fields where minoritized groups are underrepresented.”

“Through this request for proposals, we hope to provide opportunities for our faculty to conduct scholarly work on this important topic, and most importantly to brainstorm innovative new ideas that could, if implemented, fundamentally alter the current trajectory,” said Ann West, associate vice president for research and partnerships.

West said the goal is that the “seed grants” will encourage OU researchers to come up with unique, creative ideas that would be competitive for external funding related to the topic of inequalities in the academic research and creative activity enterprise and the impact of such inequalities on knowledge creation and dissemination.

Proposals are due to the OU Office of Research and Partnerships by 5 p.m. Friday, June 26. Funding decisions are expected by July 20.