Research

Academics’ passion for research should feed into the ideal higher education experience, says Gill Evans

Retiring Research England executive chair reflects on REF, impact and open access

The new UK PM’s team needs to maintain access for the hardest-to-reach, fulfil research spending promises and continue levelling up, says Laura Brassington

Reliance on student reviews of university teaching has led to a warped understanding of quality, says Sally Patfield

Funder bows to pressure after postgraduate students said soaring inflation was making it ‘unfeasible’ to complete their studies

Visa delays costing us top overseas staff and PhD students, Australian universities warn

University report alleges students were charged extra fees in dentistry school, but faculty see racial politics and retaliation over whistleblowing

The humanities do not have uniquely transformational qualities or a monopoly on critical thinking and empathy. With departments under threat outside the UK’s elite institutions, better to insist on the importance of everyone’s being able to interrogate the stories we tell ourselves, writes Joe Moran

Changing world in research means substantial changes to UK assessment needed, says outgoing chair of Research England

The wider issues raised by the scandal can be particularly acute in the work of academic practitioners in cultural fields, says Ian Pace

National interest test for research grants to be simplified amid sweeping review of ARC

Enormous efforts to increase links between research fields have failed to consider how undergraduates can also benefit and contribute, says Stephanie Marshall

Beijing boosts early student participation in research as world becomes ‘less friendly’, but efforts could stall because of limited funding

Perennially underdone educational relationship ready to go to the next level, advocates say

Campaigners say academic publishers will have to ‘figure this out pretty darn fast’ as Biden sets 2025 deadline for switch to instant open access

Researchers say using improvisational comedy can improve their ability to communicate findings

The regulations can be ambiguous, but the masturbation paper furore is a result of supervisors’ and reviewers’ lack of vigilance, says Michelle Shipworth

In holdover from print-dominant era, top 330 academic science titles too often seen as banning or hindering published rebuttals of their articles

Karl Andersson’s ‘appallingly bad’ paper has exposed the insanity of ethnography’s turn towards introspection and other postmodern research methods that place little value on objectivity, says William Matthews

To sustain its world-leading universities and science, the next UK prime minister must listen to Tory heavyweights and move on from ‘sugar-rush’ policymaking

The University of Northampton’s outgoing vice-chancellor reflects on how lessons from punk rock led him to survive in academia and deliver one of UK higher education’s most ambitious campus projects. Jack Grove reports

Analysis of more than 50,000 behavioural and brain sciences articles also suggests their results are less likely to be replicated by others

Yes, in-person interaction has benefits, but ending online accessibility will close the door again on those unable to travel, says Alexandra Ridgway

Biggest beneficiaries from excellence-driven funds will leverage uplift to secure additional funding and win political arguments, say pro vice-chancellors

Outgoing prime minister’s pro-science messaging has been ever-present during his time in Downing Street but has he delivered for research? Jack Grove considers his legacy

Unbounded discussions develop the critical but playful thinking that allows people to safely challenge and be challenged, says Lee Cronin

In some countries, male researchers’ article output appears to have been more adversely affected, according to new study

DFG advisory group says opposition to animal use comes from ‘fundamental misjudgements’ and that falling usage figures ‘say nothing’ about welfare

Second postponement in as many years acknowledges Covid’s ‘major impact’ on research efforts

Next prime minister urged to appoint Cabinet-level minister for science and technology to show ambitious commitments are ‘more than just words’

Online has its advantages but it doesn’t match the complex social experience of face-to-face meetings, say four historians of science

Global poll of nearly 10,000 researchers reveals continued influence of bibliometrics in determining reputation and institutional ties

Whitehall advisor who devised alternative Horizon programme says stablisation funds should be released immediately while talks over UK membership continue

Britain’s first history professor of African heritage discusses Colston, the ‘myth’ of Windrush and surviving in academia without support

Narratives describing research in departments should be replaced by institution-level document, recommends funder-backed study

More innovative screening of grant applications that avoid full peer review could remove red tape burden on researchers, says Adam Tickell

California continues trailblazing push with major publishers but sees fundamental cost problem still unresolved

Human rights expert claims ‘inaccurate’ impact submission written on her work by old employer highlights why funding rules should change

Fears that resources will be spread too thinly as ministries and research organisations back majority of possible priorities for the scheme

Signatories will discuss how to make research assessment fairer and defuse ‘publish or perish’ culture

Doctoral training centre sorry for email suggesting doctoral students work in fields and sell cosmetics to make ends meet

Taxi drivers are a good source of inspiration on profound questions of alien life, intergalactic travel and deep space exploration, says British scientist

Formula-driven funding for those hardest hit by deadlock with EU and more fellowship money unveiled under ‘Plan B’ road map

Rapid erosion of value of £9,250 is ‘stretching unit of resource to breaking point’ and will require new legislation, says Jo Johnson

‘Unclear’ status of main UK science funder has led to slow decision-making, inefficiency and limited cross-disciplinary research, finds report

Successful replication efforts heavily tied to whether original research team allowed a role, finds study of contentious psychology field

Ilan Gur and Matt Clifford will lead UK’s new ‘high risk, high reward’ scientific research agency

Long-term settlement for Francis Crick Institute announced by PM ‘maintains current levels of activity’

If authors are no longer required to justify their fundamental assumptions, where does that leave referees, asks Martyn Hammersley

Empty podiums, low engagement from speakers and higher costs have led events large and small to rethink combining online and physical gatherings

Australian book weighs the ethics of evolving research techniques, including the downsides of drones and selfies with animals

Companies built on university-based research twice as likely to succeed if they receive Innovate UK backing, study suggests

Data from seven years’ worth of Horizon 2020 grants shows you ‘don't need to tell researchers what to do’, ERC president says

Planned reductions to Foreign Ministry budget would hurt institutional cooperation and leave researchers in the lurch, DAAD exchange service says

British Academy chief Julia Black says Treasury must urgently clarify stance on Horizon Europe and long-term backing for UK science

Boosting individual academics' awareness of the risks of collaboration in certain areas is also crucial, says Fiona Quimbre

Departure of prime minister may allow for a rethink on Horizon Europe association, but sector could face months of damaging policy stasis, say experts

Large-scale study finds younger, female supervisors are more likely to produce PhD graduates who publish successfully

Former nurse will take on research council post vacated by REF stalwart David Sweeney

‘DragonBear’ alliance may force Western universities to cancel research partnerships with China, says former science minister Lord Johnson