science
Hosted by HiddenREF · science · EN
Welcome What the REF - Our attempt at demystifying everyone's favourite national research assessment exercise! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Signup to Generate a PitchWhat the REF?! is hosted by HiddenREF. The show has published 28 episodes to date.
Recent episodes include "What the REF: GONE ROGUE!" (28 October 2026, 46 minutes), "What the REF are we expecting this Autumn?!" (30 September 2026, 43 minutes), and "What the REF do you get out of submitting to the Hidden REF Competition?!" (25 August 2026, 46 minutes).
What the REF?! publishes roughly monthly, with episodes averaging 40 minutes across 28 episodes.
Booking probability for What the REF?! is 31%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. What the REF?! requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. What the REF?!'s contact route on record: verified email.
The strongest fits for What the REF?! are Universities & Colleges and Scientific Research & Development. What the REF?! has a science audience.
HiddenREF hosts What the REF?!, a science podcast with 28 episodes published.
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Episode #28
Simon's away, so James and Gemma are going rogue. This week: two autumn predictions land, a £1bn devolution push and a new research data policy. Then the British Academy's report on dual support, which quietly admits UK...
Episode #26
REF rules are (probably) coming this autumn — but what else is heading the sector's way? James, Gemma and Simon (plus one uninvited chicken) map out the season ahead: the budget, UKRI funding fallout, open data policy...
The Hidden REF competition is back! Bigger, busier and more diverse than ever. But why should you enter? In this episode, the What the REF team hears from three previous winners about what they gained from taking part...
Episode #24
How do you do your first REF when there is no instruction manual? In this episode of What the REF, we meet Arts University Plymouth as they prepare for their very first REF submission. Alexandra Murphy and Ian...
Episode #23
<p>Our hosts are all members of the Hidden REF committee based at the universities of Southampton and Bristol: Gemma Derrick – a self-confessed REF junkie – Ola Thomson, and James Baker.Our producer is Ben...
Episode #23
Episode 23 of What the REF looks back at the recent ARMA Conference and the team’s take on various sessions there on the Research Excellence Framework. Gemma, Ola, and James discuss uncertainty around REF 2029...
<p>Find out more about the HiddenREF campaign at Hidden-REF.org</p><br><p>'What the REF' is made possible by the Embedding Trust in Evaluation (E-TIE) research grant from Research England.</p><br><p>Want to get in...
<p>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. New...
Episode #20
<p>This episode of What the REF explores some of the biggest tensions shaping REF and the wider research sector. Gemma, Simon and Lyndsey discuss a criticism of the measurement of research culture, arguing that...
Episode #19
<p>Inside the REF machine: this episode of What the Ref lifts the lid on life as an institutional lead. Featuring Gemma Fitzsimmons and Julie Northam, we explore the realities of coordinating submissions, navigating...
Episode #18
<p>This week on What the Ref, the team heads to Plymouth for a lively workshop on non-traditional outputs before diving into a fascinating interview with Gareth Cole on the future of open access books. From monographs...
Episode #17
<p>Dive into the latest episode of What the REF?, where the team unpacks shifting UK research funding, REF 2029 updates, and what an interim director could mean for the sector. From curiosity-driven research and “hidden...
Episode #16
<p>Discover the story behind the Hidden REF Competition in this special episode of What the REF. James and Lindsay explain how the initiative celebrates the vital but often overlooked contributions that keep research...
Episode #15
<p>Research culture, open access battles, and major REF leadership news — this episode of What the REF?! unpacks the forces reshaping UK academia. The team reflects on the resignation of REF 2029 director Rebecca...
<p>This episode of What the Ref mixes REF chat with community energy as James returns, Researchfish’s impending closure sparks lively debate, and the team reflects on what meaningful research culture could look like...
<p>A new year of ‘REF-iness’ kicks off as the What the REF team unpack the fallout from December’s REF changes and look ahead to what 2026 holds. With the dust now settling, the conversation turns from reaction to...
Episode #12
<p>This week on What the REF?!, Ola and James start to unpack the long-awaited REF announcement from December, sharing first reactions and a palpable sense of relief across the sector. While a full deep dive is parked...
<p>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.</p><p>Find out more about the...
Episode #11
<p>Find out more about the HiddenREF campaign at Hidden-REF.org</p><br><p>'What the REF' is made possible by the Embedding Trust in Evaluation (E-TIE) research grant from Research England.</p><br><p>Want to get in...
Episode #10
<p>In this lively episode of What the Ref, Gemma, James and Simon guide listeners through the endlessly surprising world of the Research Excellence Framework. Proceedings begin with Simon recounting the final NTO...
Recent guests on What the REF?!. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
Young Adults Pastor and Internship Program Director, Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing
former Ohio Supreme Court Justice, Industrial Inspection & Analysis
Arts University Plymouth
Universities Human Resources (UHR)
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