Research funding

Not getting credit is a small price to pay for ensuring that social science has a voice, say Jane Elliott and Phil Sooben

We know too little about the impact of a research council that funds work with big policy implications, says David Walker

Kieran Fenby-Hulse asks whether being gay limits opportunities for researchers

Liberals’ first budget also includes extra support for students

Relevant and recent grant applications can be helpful if used in the right way, says Adam Golberg

Scholars in the UK and Australia contemptuous of impact statements and often exaggerate them, study suggests

German academic looking at UK system raises concerns over incentives created by research excellence framework

Future research excellence framework could incorporate information on the ‘future plans of institutions’

The Watt review’s recommendations are timely and sensible, says David Lloyd

The House of Representatives approves legislation that dictates NSF grants can be awarded only to projects in the ‘national interest’

A focus on basic cell biology and statistical population health studies means that understanding how living systems operate has been neglected, they claim

Subra Suresh fears that business short-termism, increasing research costs and worries over cybersecurity are undermining the incentives to invest

We may be small and young, but don’t underestimate our research, says Stephen Decent

Critics fear proposals for high-level body could risk politicising scientific decisions.

Authors argue this means universities should spend less on senior academics and give promising younger scholars more of a chance

We talk to the research council CEO about pharmaceutical drugs modelling and a childhood interest in studying animal remains

After years of refusing to make or review grant applications, Philip Moriarty had a change of heart, but he still has mixed feelings about the UK research councils

First analysis of its kind says modern institutions have suffered from creation of research consortia

Narrow science base could hurt ability to meet new challenges, report says

Chair of review into research excellence framework also defends decision to have steering committee dominated by Russell Group

Investment pays off for the economy, finds groundbreaking US study

A qualified welcome for George Osborne’s real-terms protection of research, but uncertainty over how new overseas aid spending will operate

David Price, Graeme Reid and Andrew Clark applaud the wisdom of creating Research UK

Unexpected creation of a ‘Global Challenges Research Fund’ means that if they want more money, academics may have to contribute to international development

Higher levels of stress among senior women revealed by Leadership Foundation report

However, there is confusion over the final value of the settlement, which may include 'tucking in' of Global Challenges fund

New ministerial committee could wield power over research agenda, but support expressed for new pot of interdisciplinary funding

Investment in knowledge is one of Britain’s USPs, explains Mark Samuels

Commitment not to merge the research councils appears to contradict plans for a bonfire of the quangos in BIS

Comments on spending review attributed to universities minister later removed by Royal Society of Biology

Green Paper recommends use of metrics, despite July report’s reservations

Science and Technology Committee raises fears that resource spending has not kept up with new infrastructure

Author of new book The Cunning of Uncertainty fears pressure for scientific certainty is leading researchers to make promises they cannot deliver

Much is to be decided on who will distribute research funding, but a metrics-based ‘mini-REF’ may raise eyebrows, says David Matthews

Iain Foulkes on how scientists can win part of huge grant to push forward the frontiers of cancer research

Success rates fall at five out of six councils amid warnings that the process could become ‘more of a lottery’ as reviewers are stretched

Universities of Birmingham, Glasgow and York enter top 10 after £120 million grant for quantum technology

Ellie Bothwell looks at the potential impact of Justin Trudeau’s election on the higher education system

Funding council extols virtues of Higher Education Innovation Funding as spending review cuts loom

Stephen Curry is campaigning against possible cuts to the UK research budget, and he needs your help

Director Jeremy Farrar argues that current research culture damages scientists’ ability ‘to dream’

Theses in open-access repository at Dublin City University have been downloaded almost 1.4 million times

It seems unlikely that charity donors will want to pay for university research overheads – but someone will have to eventually

Charities blame widening gap between their grants and full costs of research 

Week of university visits may lead to a broader framework agreement

Sir John makes robust defence of current set-up as he warns sector not to be ‘complacent’ about councils’ future

Physicist warns that the UK’s high scientific output is based on investment made ‘decades’ ago

Scholar says departments that did well in the research excellence framework may not have the right to ‘strut around campus’ if their field is not competitive 

Research councils thought to be under review as BIS aims to be ‘sharper, smaller, cheaper’

Discipline may fund women fairly because of a better awareness of the ‘ingrained, institutionalized male culture of universities’

Financial boost follows better than average performance in the 2014 REF

Global analysis shows hospital studies increasingly important but industry publications dip

We talk to the AHRC chief executive as he prepares to move to the School of Advanced Study

Postponement of responsive mode grants partly aimed at preserving success rates while research council makes ‘additional large investments’

BIS confirms it is looking at how to cut costs, after news emerges of ‘quick and dirty’ McKinsey review

Director of knowledge exchange hub says that the arts and humanities can play a key role in bringing creative companies and academics together

Asking R&D-heavy companies to help plug gaps in the science budget has implicit appeal but, in reality, only increased public spending is likely to keep global firms in the UK, says Paul Jump

Plunging MoD research spend compensated for over past decade by rising research council budget

The launch of Jo Johnson’s One Nation Science strategy has put place firmly on the research policy agenda, says Holly Else

Regional audits of science activity will identify areas of emerging scientific strength, says minister