[UK] REF2021 - Can nominate panel members. Deadline is 20th December at noon!

REF2021 is really important to UK universities for the assessment of their research, and the allocation of future research funding.

I only just saw this, and expect it may be too late for people to sort out: http://www.ref.ac.uk/about/nompan/

The last REF project seemed totally credulous in its assessment of research like PACE, so it would be great to include people interested in thinking critically about the work being reviewed.

More generally, I wonder if the REF process is something we should be attempting to engage with. I wonder if there is any process to allow people to point out misleading claims in earlier submissions.

 

A couple of REF2021 consultation workshops in London that people can sign up for (Dec 20th deadline again). Having a reasonable familiarity with academia/research looks like it would be helpful.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cons...ic-engagement-in-ref-2021-tickets-41046480127

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cons...ic-engagement-in-ref-2021-tickets-41046480127

Sorry for only posting about this stuff the day before the deadline.

 

This looks to me like part of 'the system'. It allows very open and democratic but is the complete opposite. You get elected if you are the right sort of chap as defined by the right sort of chaps. Anyone casting doubt on any other right sort of chap will be politely told they will not be needed further.

 

That was my suspicion too. Still, they did mention wanting to increase involvement from those with disabilities, etc. Also, they might not be great at filtering out us wrong sorts? Getting people in the room on things like this could be really helpful.

 

Yeah, sorry. Deadline of tomorrow midday is too soon for me to be able to deal with it, especially if Jo doesn't believe that it's particularly worth our time anyway.

ETA: Thanks for flagging it up though.

 

Yes... my thoughts exactly.

I was never able to find how/if REF2014 did any sort of independent evaluation of the claims on research impact submitted to them. The submissions made around CFS were pretty consistently absurd. Considering the amount of funding that can be affected by REF, it all seemed very dodgy.

 

I have always found the word excellence should be associated mentally with the little action of touching the side of the nose with the forefinger twice.

Is there an emoji for that?

 

Well, there's Newman and Redford from "The Sting."