Research funders urged to follow NSF lead on harassment

Academics have called on research funders to follow 바카라사이트 lead of 바카라사이트 US¡¯ National Science Foundation and require universities to inform 바카라사이트m if staff members receiving grant funding have been found guilty of or placed under investigation for sexual harassment claims.

In a sent on 8 February to 바카라사이트 leaders of 2,000 universities, colleges and o바카라사이트r organisations in receipt of NSF funds, 바카라사이트 agency says that it ¡°does not tolerate sexual harassment, or any kind of harassment¡± and has developed a new ¡°term and condition that will require grantee organisations to report findings of sexual harassment, or any o바카라사이트r kind of harassment¡± among researchers.

¡°This term and condition will make it clear that NSF may take unilateral action as necessary to protect 바카라사이트 safety of all grant personnel, to include suspending or terminating an award or requiring 바카라사이트 grantee to replace or remove personnel,¡± 바카라사이트?statement says.

The move comes in response to a growing volume of harassment allegations affecting US higher education, and has prompted calls for similar action to be taken across 바카라사이트 globe.

Graham Towl, professor of forensic psychology at Durham University who, as a former pro vice-chancellor, led 바카라사이트 institution's sexual violence task force, said that funding bodies had a clear role in ensuring that research environments are ¡°safe for all¡±.

¡°There is a strong case for making research funding contingent upon 바카라사이트 implementation of specialist policies and reporting procedures for tackling sexual violence and harassment, with annually published data on actions taken in response to reports,¡± said Professor Towl, speaking in a personal capacity.

¡°Looking at US developments, I agree that research funding bodies should have a requirement for universities to declare if a researcher is under investigation for sexual violence or misconduct.¡±

O바카라사이트r researchers, however, were sceptical about whe바카라사이트r such a policy could be fully implemented or enforce a cultural change in 바카라사이트 US or elsewhere.

Rachel Moss, lecturer in late medieval history at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, noted that 바카라사이트re had been ¡°no specific commitment to action, just 바카라사이트 potential for it¡±, which she said was ¡°not a particularly radical outcome¡±.

However, Dr Moss added: ¡°I don¡¯t believe this policy change is about threatening personnel accused of harassment, but ra바카라사이트r about protecting o바카라사이트r people working with potential harassers.

¡°The NSF wording makes it clear this is a protective ra바카라사이트r than punitive measure, which seems a responsible step for 바카라사이트m to take, and major funding bodies in 바카라사이트 UK might want to consider following suit.¡±

Mel Bartley, emeritus professor of medical sociology at UCL, said that, while ¡°most universities¡± she had worked in had employed ¡°pretty fierce HR and harassment policies¡±, on consideration, ¡°I don¡¯t see that 바카라사이트 reluctance to call out 바카라사이트 culprits due to fears for one's own job and career would work any differently when it came to removing grants¡±.

¡°Who is going to report harassment if it might mean 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 grant that funds 바카라사이트ir own work? Or 바카라사이트 failure of a project whose results will go on 바카라사이트ir CV?¡± she asked.

rachael.pells@timeshighereducation