Ep 15. What the REF do we do without Rebecca?!

Research culture, open access battles, and major REF leadership news — this episode of What the REF?! unpacks the forces reshaping UK academia. The team reflects on the resignation of REF 2029 director Rebecca Fairbairn, debates universities walking away from big publishing deals, and explores how journal prestige still drives pressure and toxic incentives in some disciplines. They also let producer Ben on camera for once to introduce the new Hidden REF expert groups, which are a way of getting YOU involved in shaping the assessment criteria for not-traditionally submitted research outputs. Finally, they mark International Women and Girls in Science Day. Expect candid discussion on publishing power, research assessment, and how culture change in universities might actually happen. Interested in joining an expert group? You can sign up here: https://hidden-ref.org/expert-groups/ Our hosts are all members of the Hidden REF committee based at the universities of Southampton and Bristol: Gemma Derrick - a self-confessed REF junkie - James Baker and Ola Thomson, and our producer is Ben Thomas.