Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ben Thomas

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 4d

Risk-averse universities ‘hindering own REF performance’.

Hidden REF Festival: Institutions urged to “pull their socks up” and submit more non-traditional outputs.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Risk-averse universities ‘hindering own REF performance’ - Research Professional News

Hidden REF Festival: Institutions urged to “pull their socks up” and submit more non-traditional outputs

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Hampshire & Isle of Wight Green Party @hantsiowgreens.bsky.social · 20d

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/green-mayo...
Local Green voices in our community, Hampshire & Isle of Wight.
Thank you for all donations so far! See link 💚

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Carla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 23d

Here's a better idea: every data centre you build, you build enough renewable energy to power it, and you supply the waste heat from your cooling system to power homes and businesses nearby. Simple. Common sense. And fair.

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · 23d

I don’t think privatisation was just a ‘failed experiment’… it was planned theft from the public under the guise of whatever their stated reasons were. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Privatisation of UK industries is driving cost of living crisis, says Greens’ leader

Zack Polanski calls mass privatisation a ‘failed experiment’ as report finds it has cost UK households £250 a year more

www.theguardian.com

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · 24d

Lovely stuff m.youtube.com/shorts/wIPVZ...

How do we fix this mess? join.greenparty.org.uk

YouTube video by Zack Polanski

m.youtube.com

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Common Wealth @cmmonwealth.bsky.social · 25d

Welcome to Rip-Off Britain.

A country remade by privatisation.

Our latest project — Who Owns Britain? — explores how a radical experiment transformed our society and shapes your life.

🧵

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · Aug 31

It's a 5 horse race with 4 'meh' to terrible options... But get behind the Greens and we can win! www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/green-mayo...

💚 Get A Green Mayor Elected Hants & IOW 2026 💚

The Green Party needs your help to win in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Mayoral election 2026 💚

www.crowdfunder.co.uk

Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · Jul 22

Do you, or someone you know, work in sensitive data curation in the UK?

Please have a read about this HDR UK-led, UKRI DRI-funded project on skills for sensitive data curation. Link to the survey in the article.

Please share with your networks!

www.hdruk.ac.uk/study-and-tr...

Sensitive Data Curation Survey

www.hdruk.ac.uk

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David Wearing @davidwearing.bsky.social · Jul 19

Absolutely dystopian juxtaposition from the Guardian front page. Difficult to understand how anyone of decency and conscience can defend this government at this point. Just sheer moral degeneracy to arm a state that does this and arrest people for objecting. Wtf are we doing as a country?

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Arielle Bennett @arielleb.bsky.social · Jul 16

✨Calling all academic coders! Share your views on open source in academia ✨
TL;DR
🚀Survey on contributing to open source projects in academia
👉 southampton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
⏰ Approx 20 mins.
📅 Closes 30 September
🌍 Open to anyone in academia, anywhere in the world (1/6)

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

southampton.qualtrics.com

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Franz is banned again @protopigeonz.bsky.social · Jul 10

It’s an arms race.

Courtesy of @darrencullen.bsky.social

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Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Jul 9

Opinion: Vague rules will not dispel the REF’s climate of caution.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Vague rules will not dispel the REF’s climate of caution - Research Professional News

Inclusive assessment needs stronger backing, say Gemma Derrick, Elizabeth Gadd, Simon Hettrick and James Baker

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Xun-ling Au 歐迅灵 🏴 @xunlingau.bsky.social · Jul 8

"policies that drown people bad" excellently presented by @zoejardiniere.bsky.social

Labour & Tories both tying themselves in knots trying to defend cruelty.

There are alternatives to the hostile & failed policies currently in place, neither party seem willing to even consider

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · Jul 7

Zoe Gardener calls our Labour and the Conservatives over small boat arrivals @zoejardiniere.bsky.social

Part 1/3

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · Jul 3

Can your work be submitted to REF2029?

The latest episode of What the REF for your listening pleasure.

Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · Jul 2

🎙️ Podcast episode 4 is out now

What the REF is happening with the CKU?!

Listen to What the REF?! via our website, on Youtube or wherever you usually find your podcasts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=U97E...

Have a question about REF you'd like answered?
👉 [email protected]

Ep4. What the REF is happening with the CKU?!

YouTube video by Hidden REF

www.youtube.com

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · Jul 1

Good stuff. Also important to point out that conflating the IDF with all jewish people is wrong and cynically being used to silence criticism of the Israeli state's armed forces' actions.

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · Jun 27

Report here 👉 zenodo.org/records/1506... 3/3

Digital and Professional Skills for Industry: Understanding Employers and Graduates Experiences

This report provides analysis into skills gaps for UK graduates as they transition into software engineering and data science roles within industry and the public sector. Drawing on qualitative data f...

zenodo.org

Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · Jun 27

In this podcast, we explore the ways higher education can – and maybe cannot – develop the skills needed for working in industry, and the role that employers and universities' CPD offerings can play in complementing what HEIs do. 2/3

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · Jun 27

I recently spoke to Emily Bastable, FHEA about our Software Sustainability Institute report, 'Digital and Professional Skills for Industry: Understanding Employers and Graduates Experiences'. 1/3
shows.acast.com/the-work-fut...

Are universities equipping graduates with skills for industry? | The Work Futures Research Centre Podcast

shows.acast.com

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · Jun 25

Episode 3 of What the REF?! Is out now on YouTube and your podcast app. youtu.be/uHRQjNqY6CY

Ep3. What the REF are our research incentives?

YouTube video by Hidden REF

youtu.be

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Clive Lewis MP @labourlewis.bsky.social · Jun 9

Water industry lobbyists tried to inflate the value of failing firms.

Now it’s clear: bringing them into public ownership could cost close to £0.

There’s support across the spectrum for public ownership.

Action is a matter of political will.

@cmmonwealth.bsky.social @ewanmg.bsky.social

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Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · May 28

🎙️ Podcast episode 2 is out now

What the REF should we call these outputs?!

Listen to What the REF?! via our website hidden-ref.org/what-the-ref/, on YouTube or wherever you usually find your podcasts.

Have a question about REF you'd like answered?
👉 [email protected]

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · May 28

Episode 2 is out now! 'What the REF?!' is a podcast explaining everything you need to know about the UK's Research Excellence Framework, as well as promoting the value of 'non-traditionally submitted outputs' alongside traditional journal articles and books.

Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · May 28

🎙️ Podcast episode 2 is out now

What the REF should we call these outputs?!

Listen to What the REF?! via our website hidden-ref.org/what-the-ref/, on YouTube or wherever you usually find your podcasts.

Have a question about REF you'd like answered?
👉 [email protected]

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · May 21

I had fun producing this podcast. On YouTube and your podcast app now!

Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · May 21

🎙️ We've started a podcast!

We're excited to launch What the REF?!, the very first podcast from Hidden REF, where we attempt to demystify everyone's favourite national research assessment exercise.
hidden-ref.org/what-the-ref/

Have a question about REF you'd like answered?
👉 [email protected]

What the REF - The Hidden REF

What the REF?! A new podcast to demystify the REF What the REF?! is a new podcast that will investigate issues around research culture, recognition for […]

hidden-ref.org

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Ben Thomas @bennopt.bsky.social · May 21

I had fun producing this podcast. On YouTube and your podcast app now!

Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · May 21

🎙️ We've started a podcast!

We're excited to launch What the REF?!, the very first podcast from Hidden REF, where we attempt to demystify everyone's favourite national research assessment exercise.
hidden-ref.org/what-the-ref/

Have a question about REF you'd like answered?
👉 [email protected]

What the REF - The Hidden REF

What the REF?! A new podcast to demystify the REF What the REF?! is a new podcast that will investigate issues around research culture, recognition for […]

hidden-ref.org

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Reposted by Ben Thomas

Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · May 19

📢 Registration is now open 📢

Join us on 7-8 October 2025 at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum for the second Festival of Hidden REF!

Explore the indicative schedule, learn more on our website or head straight to the registration page to secure your place! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-festiv...

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