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Churn, not crisis, for UK science @profgeraintrees.bsky.social & I have written the editorial in this week’s @science.org, reflecting on early moves by the Burnham government + scope for US-UK cooperation on scale-up finance & AI for science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... @rorinstitute.bsky.social

DSIT is dead, but UK science will be fine. Keep your eyes on the AI prize. A few thoughts by me @theconversation.com on the reorganisation of Whitehall science theconversation.com/what-the-sud... @ersatzben.com @hetanshah.bsky.social @rorinstitute.bsky.social @profgeraintrees.bsky.social

What the sudden demise of the UK’s department of science means for the future of researchIf we want to be reminded what real damage to a science system looks like, we only need to glance across the Atlantic.theconversation.com

‘…political appointees patrolling the borders of knowledge.’ @anjahuja.bsky.social on the US OMB’s attempt to rewrite the rules of federal grantmaking giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... t

Trump is driving another nail into the coffin of US scienceUnder proposed reforms, political appointees will review grants to ensure they “advance the President’s priorities”giftarticle.ft.com

A great start yesterday to RoRI’s 3-day summit on ‘augmented assessment’ in Cambridge, where we’ve been joined by the architects of research assessment systems from 11 countries, and a fantastic team of metascience experts & facilitators.

‘AI-assisted grants: prioritize fairness with excellence.’ Thoughtful editorial in @nature.com sparked by the article @profgeraintrees.bsky.social & I wrote last week, plus ongoing debates at ERC about how to cope with volume/demand spikes www.nature.com/articles/d41... @rorinstitute.bsky.social

Could agentic AI topple grant-funding systems? New article in @nature.com by @profgeraintrees.bsky.social & me, with data from 12 funders showing a 57% increase in grant applications since 2022 (& the launch of LLMs) rdcu.be/ffApn @rorinstitute.bsky.social @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social

Great to be in sunny Leusden, NL at the International School for Philosophy (ISVW) for the 2026 RoRI Research Retreat. And here’s (most of!) RoRI’s research and operational team — huge thanks to them all for everything they’ve contributed over the past year. @rorinstitute.bsky.social @cwts.nl

Delighted to welcome to @rorinstitute.bsky.social —> ZonMw, the NL funder of innovation in health & well-being; —> The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social, the UK national academy for humanities & social sciences Now 21 core partners in 13 countries researchonresearch.org/rori-welcome...

RoRI welcomes ZonMw and the British Academy as Core Partners - Research on ResearchWe are pleased to announce two new Core Partners: ZonMw, the Dutch Organisation for knowledge and innovation in health, healthcare […]researchonresearch.org

“We’re not ditching culture”, says Helen Cross. “But we want to reset the conversation and the words got in the way.” #REF2029

Now Helen Cross from SFC sets out the rest of the #REF2029 timetable

Now Lord Vallance is back on his ‘three buckets’ theory of R&D funding Here’s @ersatzben.com on the ‘3-bucket problem’ www.ersatzben.com/p/the-three-... Bucketism now the frontier of R&I policy. “We must defend the first bucket” says the Minister. A rallying cry to echo down the ages #REF2029

Now Lord Vallance joining the dots between #REF2029 reforms and wider UK R&I priorities

“We’re out of the pause. It’s back to business as usual. We’re moving forward with #REF2029” concludes Jessica Corner. And indeed, it’s a classic REF compromise!

So farewell ‘People, Culture & Environment’… And hello ‘Strategy, People & Research Environment’, or SPRE to her friends. 25% more words; 5% less weight… #REF2029

At @universities-uk.bsky.social where Dame Jessica Corner is gearing up for the big REF reveal! #REF2029

Huge congratulations to @sarahderijcke.nl on her appointment as Rector Magnificus @unileiden.bsky.social! Sarah is a brilliant scholar, a visionary & compassionate leader. I’m excited to see her channel her experience, wisdom & insight into this vital role www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2025...

Sarah de Rijcke appointed Rector Magnificus of Leiden UniversityProfessor Sarah de Rijcke will become the new Rector Magnificus on the Executive Board of Leiden University on 15 January 2026. She will succeed Professor Hester Bijl, who will become Rector Magnificu...www.universiteitleiden.nl

Research assessment: a round-up Excellent survey of the assessment landscape by @hollyelse.bsky.social in @nature.com, including our recent work @rorinstitute.bsky.social with the Global Research Council. www.nature.com/articles/d41... @alexrushforth.bsky.social @prussianhippie.bsky.social

Research assessment: a round-up for early-career researchersConfused by research evaluation and its potential impact on career progression? Here are some pointers as to how things work in different parts of the world.www.nature.com

Does STI policy need a strategic brain? Join us at 5pm on 30 Sept for a talk by @stianwestlake.bsky.social, Executive Chair, ESRC @ukri Hosted by STEaPP-UCL & RoRI, w/ responses by @britishacademy.bsky.social’s Molly Morgan-Jones & UCL’s Sarah Chaytor www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-sti-p...

Does STI policy need a strategic brain?A seminar on how metascience might sharpen investment decisions across the UK’s research systemwww.eventbrite.co.uk

Metascience’s challenge is to keep its big tent intact: a few final reflections on #Metascience2025 by @scurry.bsky.social & me in @resprofnews.bsky.social www.researchprofessional.com/0/rr/news/po... @briannosek.bsky.social

‘Metascience can improve science — but it must be useful to society, too’. Good, thoughtful editorial in @nature.com on #Metascience2025 & the new Alliance www.nature.com/articles/d41... @helenpearson.bsky.social @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social @briannosek.bsky.social

Metascience can improve science — but it must be useful to society, tooResearchers studying research must avoid the temptation to get too stuck in the academic weeds.www.nature.com