'Domesday book' lays bare the secrets of RAE 2001

A "Domesday Book" listing all the researchers entered for the most recent research assessment exercise is due to be launched today, writes Alison Goddard.

It lists the names of more than 50,000 researchers, against each of which is listed the four pieces of their work that were submitted for assessment.

The database is searchable by name so that researchers - and recruiters - can identify whether they were included in the exercise and, if they were, the work that was submitted.

Sir Howard Newby, chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, said: "Scholars worldwide now have the opportunity to examine this treasure trove of information on which the 68 subject panels based their judgements in the 2001 RAE.

"This rich database will provide an invaluable source of searchable information for researchers and users of research wishing to check out listings of recent work in their field or embark on collaborative ventures."

Tom Wilson, head of the universities department at lecturers' union Natfhe, said: "It's a welcome bit of transparency and we look forward to the funding council being transparent in other areas of its activities."

The submissions ranged from Warwick Boole of the Central School of Speech and Drama, who made leather armour for a touring production of MacBeth , to Peter Dornan of Imperial College London, who with 303 other authors, reported on a possible sighting of the Higgs boson at the Cern European particle physics laboratory.

The site also contains data on the number of research students and studentships, research income and statements of research policy for each department whose work was assessed in the exercise.

Details: www.hero.ac.uk/rae