EDI and Outreach Grants

Applicants must:

1. Demonstrate a clear link between the proposed activity/project and the molecular biosciences.
2. Articulate how the activity/project promotes EDI or broadens outreach to communities who face barriers related to gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, disability, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity, geography, or other marginalised groups.
3. Outline the number and demographic of the participants reached by the project e.g., young people, teachers, members of the public, volunteers and communities.
4. Justify the suitability and attractiveness of the scientific content to the target audience.
5. Demonstrate how the proposed project or activity is repeatable, scalable, or sustainable.
6. Present a well-defined plan for measuring outputs and evaluating the impact on the target audience in both the short and long term.
7. Ensure that the activity/project design reflects inclusive best practice (e.g., co-creation with communities, accessible materials, ethical engagement).
8. Provide a feasible budget with a full breakdown of costs outlining an appropriate and justified use of funds.
9. Demonstrate appropriate organisational support, collaborations or partnerships in place to deliver the proposed activities if appropriate.
10. Have a defined time-period for the activity/project to be completed.

Applications are considered once a year. The deadline for applications is 20 May 2025.

Please note we aim to send round the outcome of applications three to four weeks after the deadline.

What the Biochemical Society will fund

• We welcome applications from any area related to the molecular biosciences, with funding available for projects that will be completed by 31 March 2027.
• Applications are open to individuals, groups, charities, and not-for-profit organisations from any country and irrespective of Society membership status. 
• Projects must promote EDI principles and/or Outreach within the molecular biosciences as the primary goal. 

What the Biochemical Society will not fund

• Multiple projects from the same lead applicant within the same application round.
• Applicants cannot receive funding from the same scheme in consecutive years.
• Applications from commercial (for profit) organisations.
• The grant cannot be used to cover staff salaries, insurance or overhead costs or projects where the only costs are travel and/or refreshments.
• Projects duplicating existing educational research for which new research would not add value or insight.
• Support activities that are clearly contributing to recruitment to a particular institution or organisation. Where recruitment may be a factor, the institution will be expected to provide some of their own funding.
• Applications for scientific research projects, individual travel funding, or participation in an advertised volunteer programme.
• Any expenses incurred before receipt of an offer letter.

• The Biochemical Society cannot be held responsible for any of the Recipient’s debts or liabilities.
• The Recipient is responsible for obtaining their own financial and legal advice. 
• The Recipient must act in accordance with government legislation and is responsible for obtaining any licenses, permissions and insurances that are necessary by law.
• In the case of original research being produced as a result of the Biochemical Society EDI and Outreach grant scheme, the Biochemical Society must be acknowledged as the funder of this research in all publications. The intellectual property of the work will remain with the individual(s), groups, charities or businesses by whom it was carried out.

Successful applicants will be required to:

• Submit a final report/article for potential publication in The Biochemist discussing the project development, impact, and guidance to encourage others to engage in similar activities.
• Provide materials, outputs, or case studies that can be shared with the wider community e.g., through repeat engagement, engaging underrepresented groups, or the scale and reach of the activity. Examples can include a guide to running the activity, resources/activity pack, thorough evaluation or study of long-term impact, or training of relevant individuals who can continue to deliver the engagement activities/project.
• Acknowledge the grant in any public-facing outputs.
• Applicants will also have the opportunity to join our EDI Community to foster long-term collaboration with the Society.