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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre
@fionamcintyre.bsky.social
340 followers 380 following 64 posts
Features Editor at Research Professional News, @resprofnews.bsky.social. Previously at New Civil Engineer, @newcivilengineer.com.web.brid.gy. Looking for tips on how to keep houseplants alive. Story? [email protected]
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 11h
...and why research methods are a 'critical' output www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
‘REF needs dedicated section for research methods’ - Research Professional News
Hidden REF Festival: Conference hears plea to fill gap in Research Excellence Framework
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 11h
Really enjoyed the @hiddenref.bsky.social
festival yesterday. Some fascinating discussion around how the research security agenda could change university roles... www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Research security agenda ‘will change university roles’ - Research Professional News
Hidden REF Festival: Concerns around data security and dual-use technologies are challenging open science norms
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 11h
Could AI help to cut reviewers' workloads? Or is it a 'sticking plaster' being used to mask serious problems in peer review?

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...
AI in peer review: where to draw the line? - Research Professional News
As publishers seek “shared principles”, others warn AI could become “sticking plaster” for structural problems
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 21h
'Arm’s-length bodies such as the Office for Students (OfS) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) are particularly “vulnerable to political interference”, a new report has warned.' 1/3
‘Learn lessons from US’ and stop political interference, UK told
OfS and UKRI seen as particularly vulnerable to meddling from government, with report authors calling for more safeguards to ensure independence
www.timeshighereducation.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
John Morgan @johnmorgan3.bsky.social · 1d
With work on REF paused, should getting rid of the whole thing be on agenda?

Is it QR's defence, or outdated policy's "monster"?

Views from @gemmaderrick.bsky.social, @kieronflanagan.bsky.social and others, in @fionamcintyre.bsky.social analysis.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
REF at a crossroads: revamp or get rid? - Research Professional News
Pause intensifies debate on whether exercise is QR’s essential defence or outdated policy’s “monster”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
chrisjparr.bsky.social
Chris Parr @chrisjparr.bsky.social · 2d
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...
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
michaelemann.bsky.social
Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 3d
Great profile and shout-out for #ScienceUnderSiege via @fionamcintyre.bsky.social and @resprofnews.bsky.social (paywalled): www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...
‘US anti-science stance poses global existential threat’ - Research Professional News
Author of Science Under Siege warns that disinformation around science puts humanity at risk
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 6d
Will ‘subscribe to open’ help unlock open access?

As more publishers experiment with the model, can it live up to expectations?

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...
Will ‘subscribe to open’ help unlock open access? - Research Professional News
As more publishers experiment with the model, can it live up to expectations?
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 3d
‘US anti-science stance poses global existential threat’.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
robinbisson.bsky.social
Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 7d
Brilliant piece by @fionamcintyre.bsky.social

Not just university leaders worried about the fee levy, the CBI thinks it's a bad idea too

Even the NUS, which is "ecstatic" about the return of maintenance grants doesn't support it
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 7d
‘It’s bananas’: why student fee levy spells trouble for research.

Funding maintenance grants through money raised from international fees leaves universities facing “awkward questions”.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
‘It’s bananas’: why student fee levy spells trouble for research - Research Professional News
Funding maintenance grants through money raised from international fees leaves universities facing “awkward questions”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 7d
‘It’s bananas’: why the student fee levy spells trouble for research.

Do universities put up their fees, or do they cut money from elsewhere?
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
‘It’s bananas’: why student fee levy spells trouble for research - Research Professional News
Funding maintenance grants through money raised from international fees leaves universities facing “awkward questions”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 9d
Universities ‘must not forget EDI obligations’ amid REF 2029 pause.

University of Oxford’s chief diversity officer says most Britons “believe EDI is a good thing”. #Lab25

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Universities ‘must not forget EDI obligations’ amid REF pause - Research Professional News
Labour 2025: Oxford’s chief diversity officer says most Britons “believe EDI is a good thing”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 9d
Keir Starmer ‘scraps 50 per cent university access’ target.

Prime minister sets wider goal including apprenticeships, misquoting target set by Tony Blair. #Lab25

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Keir Starmer ‘scraps 50 per cent university access’ target - Research Professional News
Labour 2025: Prime minister misquotes Tony Blair target as he sets wider goal including apprenticeships
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 9d
Universities urged to get more political by scientist-turned-MP.

A Labour MP who was a scientist before entering parliament has urged universities to have a “strong lobbying position” on the sector’s financial concerns. #Lab25

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Universities urged to get more political by scientist-turned-MP - Research Professional News
Labour 2025: Lauren Sullivan tells institutions they need a “strong lobbying position” on financial sustainability
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 10d
Great to speak to @eicathomefinn.bsky.social, @astromikemerri.bsky.social and @5tuartreeves.bsky.social about the trouble with describing research as 'unfunded'.
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 13d
Curbing ‘unfunded’ research ‘could chase away academics’.

Researchers wary of signals from senior figures that universities “can’t afford” research without external funding.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Curbing ‘unfunded’ research ‘could chase away academics’ - Research Professional News
Researchers wary of signals from senior figures that universities “can’t afford” research without external funding
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
clanicholson.bsky.social
Craig Nicholson @clanicholson.bsky.social · 10d
Free to read: EU funding for basic research ‘heading for disaster’ warns Leru secretary-general

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
chrisjparr.bsky.social
Chris Parr @chrisjparr.bsky.social · 10d
Universities in England will be chuffed that they will have an international fee levy imposed but not rest of UK.

Newcastle VC says charging students 6% more to cover the cost seems less likely than simply taking cash from he bottom line:
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
annamckie.bsky.social
Anna McKie @annamckie.bsky.social · 23d
ICYMI, my feature for @resprofnews.bsky.social on @ukbiobank.bsky.social: Changing the game for health researchers

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...
UK Biobank: changing the game for health researchers - Research Professional News
Milestone of 100,000 whole-body images opens unprecedented data trove—but not without controversy
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 17d
As the government promises to set priorities for science, a former adviser warns that a “recalibration” of publicly funded research should not become “an excuse to undermine academic autonomy”. Via @chrisjparr.bsky.social
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 17d
Government priorities ‘should not undermine academic autonomy’.

Experts say “politically charged” phase for R&D investment in UK poses risks.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Government priorities ‘should not undermine academic autonomy’ - Research Professional News
Experts say “politically charged” phase for R&D investment in UK poses risks
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 22d
A two-tier REF would open a can of worms.

Baking in inequity benefits neither institutions nor the UK, say Rachel Persad and Emile Bojesen.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
A two-tier REF would open a can of worms - Research Professional News
Baking in inequity benefits neither institutions nor the UK, say Rachel Persad and Emile Bojesen
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · Aug 28
John-Arne Røttingen warns that diluting the research culture element of REF 2029 would be 'a step backwards'.
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Aug 28
Proposed REF changes ‘a step backwards’, says Wellcome boss.

John-Arne Røttingen lobbies science minister against reduced people, culture and environment element.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Proposed REF changes ‘a step backwards’, says Wellcome boss - Research Professional News
John-Arne Røttingen lobbies science minister against reduction to people, culture and environment element
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
francesjones.bsky.social
Frances Jones @francesjones.bsky.social · Aug 28
Economists (@timjackson.org.uk , @jksteinberger.bsky.social) criticise ESRC head (@stianwestlake.bsky.social)

Why? Westlake has said ESRC should set a “high bar against” awarding grants for degrowth-related research

Jackson has described the move as “anti-scientific”
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Aug 28
ESRC ‘bar against’ degrowth research branded ‘anti-scientific’.

Research council leader signals shift against funding projects that question benefits of economic growth.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
ESRC ‘bar against’ degrowth research branded ‘anti-scientific’ - Research Professional News
Research council leader signals shift against funding projects that question benefits of economic growth
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre
resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Aug 28
Edinburgh launches redundancy scheme for senior staff.

Latest cost-saving move at major university comes as staff at Sheffield ballot for strikes.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Edinburgh launches redundancy scheme for senior staff - Research Professional News
Latest cost-saving move at major university comes as staff at Sheffield ballot for strikes
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · Aug 21
What's happening with the REF?

The next REF 2029 panel announcements have been delayed pending other announcements relating to the exercise “in the next few weeks”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
REF halts panel announcements as rumours swirl over changes - Research Professional News
Universities ordered to cease communication around Research Excellence Framework panel members
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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fionamcintyre.bsky.social
Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · Aug 21
Two years on, how has the British Library cyberattack hit research?

Great to speak to Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social and Jason Peacey about the ongoing disruption, which is being felt keenly by humanities researchers.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Two years on, how has the British Library cyberattack hit research? - Research Professional News
Scholars fear slow recovery could hurt PhD students and REF 2029 submissions
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
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