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 🍎🍊

Excellent address by the Uni of Liverpool's Natalie Wallis at #HiddenREF festival (@hiddenref.bsky.social). Report to follow. In the meantime, here's something Wallis wrote for @resprofnews.bsky.social recently on non-traditional research outputs: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

It was wonderful opening up the 2025 Hidden REF Festival this morning, talking about the work we are doing at Liverpool to support diverse research outputs💡. Thank you to the Hidden REF team for the invitation #REF @hiddenref.bsky.social @liverpooluni.bsky.social @livuniresearch.bsky.social

Next, Gemma Derrick on how Heuristics can be used to judge what is a quality research output @gemmaderrick.bsky.social errick.bsky.social

After the intro from @jwbaker.bsky.social @hiddenref.bsky.social #HiddenREF we have Liverpool DOTs with Natalie Wallis… and so DOTs that is Diverse Output Types… so another name for Non Traditional Outputs… Liverpool have a team to support and promote their development!

First talk is from Natalie Wallis from the University of Liverpool about Diverse Research Outputs and the fear of changing research culture @nataliejessic10.bsky.social

Excited to be at day 1 of the Hidden REF festival (@hiddenref.bsky.social). Fair to say it's an interesting time for research assessment. #hiddenref

Thank you to all our generous Sponsors, Research England, and everyone who is joining the fully-booked out Festival of Hidden REF over the next two days! Looking forward to all the discussions!

We're getting ready to welcome everyone to the Festival of Hidden REF at the Think Tank in Birmingham! Very excited to learn about all the interesting work people are doing and meet them in-person!

Listening to #WhatTheRef podcast on the train en route to Birmingham for The Festival of Hidden Ref tomorrow and Weds, perfect listening material, thanks @hiddenref.bsky.social, I'm giving a lightning talk on Thurs - very much looking forward to this event :)

The Festival of Hidden REF starts one week from today 🎉 You can still grab tickets to watch remotely on Day 2: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-festiv...

🎙️ Podcast episode 7 is out now What the REF is wrong with “culture”? Listen to What the REF?! via our website, on Youtube or wherever you usually find your podcasts www.youtube.com/watch?v=u47-... Have a question about REF you'd like answered? 👉 [email protected]

💻 Remote tickets now available for Day 2 of The Festival of Hidden REF! Couldn’t make it in person? Don’t miss out - join us online! Q&As will be run through Slido, giving all participants the same opportunity to get their questions answered www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-festiv...

🎙️ Podcast episode 6 is out now WTreF does a pause mean?! Listen to What the REF?! via our website, on Youtube or wherever you usually find your podcasts www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzwP... Have a question about REF you'd like answered? 👉 [email protected]

We are planning our future episodes for the What the REF?! podcast and need your questions! If there’s something about the REF that confuses, intrigues, or frustrates you, send it our way 👉 [email protected] Need some inspiration? Catch up on past episodes here: hidden-ref.org/what-the-ref/

🎙️ Podcast episode 5 is out now What the REF are we doing with NTOs?! Listen to What the REF?! via our website, on Youtube or wherever you usually find your podcasts www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6u9... Have a question about REF you'd like answered? 👉 [email protected]