UCL Vice-Provost (Research) appointed Chair of REF Main Panel B

He will take up his role as Chair of Main Panel B (physical sciences, engineering and mathematics) later in the year, once the outcomes of the 'Consultation on the second Research Excellence Framework' are announced and further appointments to the REF panels have been made.

Professor Price said: "The REF plays a crucial role in driving the quality, vibrancy and sustainability of UK research. It is an honour to play a key role in ensuring that the assessment is rigorous, impartial, inclusive and transparent."

The chairs will provide leadership and guidance to the sub-panels that undertake the REF assessment, and advise the funding bodies - the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Scottish Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland - on their initial decisions and on the further development of the framework.

Professor Price served as Chair of Sub-Panel 7 in REF2014, as a Member of Sub-Panel 17 in its predecessor (RAE 2008) and as a member of the Advisory Group for the Stern Review of the REF. He chairs the HEFCE Forum on Responsible Research Metrics.

In a Vice-Provost's View following UCL's submission to REF2014, he wrote: "REF looks to reward very worthwhile things, such as publications with 'originality, significance and rigour', research environments with 'vitality and sustainability', and non-scholarly benefits of research with 'reach and significance'."

Dr Kim Hackett, REF Manager, said: "I am delighted to welcome the REF Main Panel Chairs to the exercise. These four individuals bring significant research expertise and experience of research assessment to these roles, and will provide strong leadership and guidance in all aspects of the REF. I look forward to working with them to ensure we deliver a successful and robust REF2021."

In REF2014, Main Panel B's 15 sub-panels assessed 403 institutional submissions, 49,317 outputs and 1,667 impact case studies, covering the work of 13,930 researchers. Assessment is by peer review with external 'research users' and as such, sub-panel chairs and members do not assess research from their own institution.

Links

• Professor David Price's profile
• UCL REF2014 results
• REF Main Panel Chairs announced
• Office of the UCL Vice-Provost (Research)

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• Professor David Price

Source

• Office of the UCL Vice-Provost (Research)