New MRS DI&E Changemaker Award
08 April 2022

This new award, initiated by Truth, seeks to recognise individuals in the research, insight and data analytics sector who are making specific contributions to meaningful diversity, inclusion and equality initiatives – either within their own organisations or as part of work they do in their wider communities.

The judges are looking for people who have initiated and led action to remove barriers, support change and create environments in which others – whether employees or research participants – feel a sense of belonging and safety.

This award reflects the MRS DI&E Council and Truth’s commitment to relentlessly drive forward and embed positive change across the sector, making diversity, inclusion and equality an integral measure of success for ourselves and our clients. 

Criteria for DI&E Changemakers:

• Nominees must work in research, insight or data analytics, including support and operations roles. Those who influence the sector more broadly will also be considered.
• Nominees must have done one or more of the following:
• Contributed to making a tangible or measurable impact within research, expressly in moves to make the sector more inclusive of all those we seek to represent
• Worked within their organisations to ensure systems are in place to go beyond access to the sector through inclusive recruitment principles, working with team-mates to ensure talent is retained through an environment actively hospitable to and encouraging of difference
• Have been responsible for implementing training programmes to inform and educate wider teams, to ensure cultural change, empathy and understanding to inform organisational structures
• Successfully delivered research which furthers the mission of equity, diversity, and inclusion across sectors, bringing clients and stakeholders on the journey to change with actionable, policy implications 
• Have a proven record of delivering change in the context of research projects or internal initiatives, working in partnership with clients and/or organisations to effect change
• Have forwarded the cause of research, or the campaigns that are most important to the sector across diversity, inclusion and equity causes

Winners will:

• receive the MRS DI&E Changemaker trophy presented by Truth at the Excellence Awards lunch

• be profiled on Research Live
• receive a donation to their chosen diversity, inclusion and equality initiative or charity of the value of £500

• receive a £500 personal thank you prize money from Truth

How to nominate

Email your nomination to awards@mrs.org.uk, detailing which off the criteria they meet, in under 500 words. You should clearly state why you feel the individual deserves recognition. Individual can not nominate themselves.

The deadline for the 2022 round of submissions is 6 May 2022.

Process following nominations:

• Nominated individuals will be contacted to see if they wish to proceed with the next round of the award
• They will be asked to submit a short personal statement detailing their interest, relevant work/initiatives and impact to the sector
• A panel of judges, selected by MRS, will review the nominations and select four finalists and a winner
• The four finalists will be invited to the MRS Excellence Awards lunch where the winner will be announced

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