🎙️ Episode 22 of What the REF?! we meet with former Research England Director Steven Hill to discuss the past, present and future of UK research assessment www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeLS...

New category just dropped. This year's Hidden REF Competition now welcomes submissions for 'Environmental Sustainability Research'. Check out the details and learn what you need to do to submit: hidden-ref.org/details-of-s...

The Hidden REF Competition is now live! The competition is your opportunity to highlight your hidden contributions to research. All the information you need to put together your submission can be found at: hidden-ref.org/hidden-ref-c... 🗓️ The deadline for submissions is 13 September

🎧 Special episode alert! In this special episode of What the REF, the team officially launches the 2026 Hidden REF Competition and explores how it has evolved from a one-off initiative into a wider movement for research culture change.

1 year 7 guests 20 episodes 2,341+ listens 6,084+ views 🎙️What the REF podcast - if you're not involved, you're missing out hidden-ref.org/what-the-ref/

The Hidden REF Competition launches in just 5 days! Check out how you can get involved: hidden-ref.org/hidden-ref-c... There are 5 panels responsible for assessing Hidden REF Submissions - you can see the previous winners for each panel on the Hidden REF website.

📢 Community call tomorrow - Tuesday 19th May 11:00-12:00 GMT There is still time to register and join us at tomorrows (online) community call! Find out more and register here: hidden-ref.org/resources/co...

Also in opinion, the Hidden REF team say it is moving from demonstration to application... www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

🎙️ Our latest episode (20) of What the REF?! features Gemma, Simon and Lyndsey exploring the evolving landscape of research assessment, from research culture and AI to the growing role of not-traditionally submitted outputs in REF submissions. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujuW...

In our latest piece for @resprofnews.bsky.social, Lyndsey and Michael lay out how the Hidden REF is helping give universities confidence in submitting NTOs by providing actionable frameworks for assessing them. Want to help shape that guidance? Join our expert groups: hidden-ref.org/expert-groups/

13 days until the Hidden REF Competition opens for submissions! Check out how you can get involved: hidden-ref.org/hidden-ref-c... There have been 13 past winners across the last two competitions - will you join that list this year?

Got expertise in not-traditionally submitted outputs (NTOs)? We’re looking for people to join Hidden REF Expert Groups! These groups will help shape guidance on assessing different types of NTOs - from software & exhibitions to patents, compositions & more. Let’s build confidence in NTOs together!

The tide is turning for research technical professionals (RTPs) :) Great article in Nature worth a quick read! www.nature.com/articles/d41... @livuni-livsrf.bsky.social @hiddenref.bsky.social‬ @bioimaginguk.bsky.social @royalmicrosoc.bsky.social

26 days until the Hidden REF Competition kicks off! 🎉 Check out how you can get involved: hidden-ref.org/hidden-ref-c... The last competition saw 26 submissions in the Hidden Role category - will there be more this year?

One week left to submit your suggestions for new or updated Hidden REF Competition categories. This early consultation phase is an important part of our mission, making sure the competition reflects what really matters across the research community. Find out more and share your ideas:

What the REF is happening with books?! We joined the @hiddenref.bsky.social team earlier this month to unpack the challenges of 🔓️ defining openness 💰️ funding models beyond BPCs 🪢 the tension between flexibility and REF policy! Listen to Ep 18. now! 🎧️

Research systems still privilege traditional outputs, overlooking vital contributors. Drawing on insights from Simon Hettrick and Philippa Broadbent, this article highlights how roles like RSEs and Technicians underpin robust, reproducible research. Read the full article on Nature Careers

One of our favourite categories in the Hidden REF Competition is the 'Hidden Role' which recognises people who make research possible behind the scenes. Want to know what impact the competition can have? Check out Laura's story about being nominated (and winning!) the award in our last competition.

One week until this #LDNOpenFest26 session💡 Open Research: the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Perspective 🗓️Friday 24 April 🕑2-3:30pm 📍Online Discover how open research supports creative, non‑traditional outputs and hear about various initiatives in this area. Register: buff.ly/251ZKIH

Curious how the Hidden REF Competition works? 1. You submit your research or nominate someone working in a hidden role 2. A panel of experts reviews those submissions 3. The panel selects winners and recognises everyone who submitted 4. Celebrate! The competition kicks off in just over a month!

What the REF is happening with books?! We join the @hiddenref.bsky.social team to unpack the challenges of 🔓️ defining openness 💰️ funding models beyond BPCs 🪢 the tension between flexibility and REF policy! Listen to Ep 18. now! 🎧️

For the last REF, almost 98% of submissions were in just 7 categories. The Hidden REF Competition is working to change that! If you’ve ever thought “this kind of work should count more”, now’s your chance to say so. Find out more and share your ideas: hidden-ref.org/hidden-ref-c...

The Hidden REF Competition 2026 officially launches at the end of May! The last competition had 24 categories and we need your help to ensure these categories still reflect the full diversity of research outputs and roles. Find out more and share your category suggestions:

There's still time to register for the online Hidden REF Community Call at 11:00GMT tomorrow! hidden-ref.org/resources/co...

🎙️ Ep17. What the REF is work/life balance?! Listen to What the REF?! via our website, on Youtube or wherever you usually find your podcasts www.youtube.com/watch?v=0whN... Have a question about the REF or an idea for the podcast, let us know at [email protected], BlueSky or Linkedin.

💡 Hidden REF Expert Groups We are inviting people to join one of the Hidden REF’s expert groups and help write assessment guidance that universities can use to assess NTOs (not-traditionally submitted outputs). If you have expertise in an NTO - join us 👉 hidden-ref.org/expert-groups/

New video: What don’t we understand about the REF? The Research Excellence Framework is still evolving - and there’s still time to shape how universities interpret the guidance. Share your ideas with the Hidden REF. 📧 [email protected]

Announcing the Hidden REF Competition 2026! hidden-ref.org/2026/03/05/h... 🎙️ Podcast Ep16. What the REF is the Hidden REF Competition?! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nogk...

📢 Join us for the first Hidden REF Community Call Shaping a Healthy Research Culture: Your Experiences, Our Future Tuesday 27th January 2026, 11:00-12:00 GMT 📅 Add it directly to your calendar: evt.to/ehoudogmw Full details: hidden-ref.org/resources/co...

Breaking News! The Pause is Over! What the REF is happening now?! Simon and Ola are live at the 2025 Research & Innovation Conference, hearing Professor Dame Jessica Corner outline how REF2029 is moving forward - and we’ve got immediate reactions. 🎤 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lYO...

During the Festival of Hidden REF, we spoke to some of our attendees to find out how they think research culture in UK higher education can be improved. Take a look and let us know what you would like to change! www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJCu...

We are delighted to be media partners for this year's Hidden REF Festival (@hiddenref.bsky.social)! First report from Birmingham👇

Great day 1 at the Hidden REF Festival 2025. Really friendly vibe, and really interesting discussions about non-traditional research outputs. @hiddenref.bsky.social Write-up: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

@hiddenref.bsky.social get ready for the Lightning Talks…

@hiddenref.bsky.social Arianna Ciula, Kings College London, on how to assess Digital Outputs in the Digital Humanities…

@hiddenref.bsky.social A workplace needs to be somewhere where you don’t need to choose between authenticity and success…

@hiddenref.bsky.social Why Technicians Belong at the Design Table…

@hiddenref.bsky.social Methods are a foundational - but oft unappreciated - research output…

@hiddenref.bsky.social #FestivalHiddenREF today - lightning talks already proving quite impactful

@hiddenref.bsky.social Understanding the diverse forms of research output at University of Sheffield…

@hiddenref.bsky.social Can the established culture of the academy and usual disciplinary approaches enable new ways of knowing? Championing different methods of creating knowledge in HE….

@hiddenref.bsky.social Developing Evidence-informed Output Narratives using INORMS’ SCOPE Framework…

@hiddenref.bsky.social celebrating Hidden Ref 2024 Winners: Laura Henderson, Hidden Role Winner

@hiddenref.bsky.social Closing Panel session chaired by James Baker: Rewarding research excellence, recognising research careers, perspectives on evaluating diverse outputs

@hiddenref.bsky.social James Baker and Simon Hettrick with reflections and what’s next following a fantastic two days here in Birmingham

Here’s a write-up that includes my lightning talk and reflections on why technicians must be recognised in the REF: 🔗 www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r... Hope to work with others to get methods formally recognised as reportable research outputs in a category of their own.

Risk-averse universities “hindering REF performance” by ignoring non-traditional research. Institutions should “pull their socks up”, @nataliejessic10.bsky.social tells the 2025 Hidden REF Festival (@hiddenref.bsky.social). Free to read: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Exciting to see @nataliejessic10.bsky.social discussing the University of Liverpool's approach to Diverse Research Outputs at the #HiddenREFfestival 🍎🍊