Stian Westlake
@stianwestlake.bsky.social
Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council. Metascience, evidence, data infrastructures, economic growth.
Reposted by Stian Westlake
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
December 9, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
I keep coming back to this fascinating post by an Australian research, Chris Berg, about the role of think-tanks in the social science ecosystem.
chrisbergaus.substack.com/p/think-tank...
chrisbergaus.substack.com/p/think-tank...
Think tanks are idea creators, not mere translators
I started my career in the think tank world. I was often asked a very basic question: what do think tanks actually do?
chrisbergaus.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:37 AM
I keep coming back to this fascinating post by an Australian research, Chris Berg, about the role of think-tanks in the social science ecosystem.
chrisbergaus.substack.com/p/think-tank...
chrisbergaus.substack.com/p/think-tank...
Wonderful to see Philippe Aghion of the @cep-lse.bsky.social recognised, alongside Peter Howitt and Joel Mokyr, in this year’s Nobel Prize for Economics. Three unusually deserving winners!
October 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Wonderful to see Philippe Aghion of the @cep-lse.bsky.social recognised, alongside Peter Howitt and Joel Mokyr, in this year’s Nobel Prize for Economics. Three unusually deserving winners!
Excited to launch ESRC's major investment in METIUS, led by @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social, with a host of global partners.
METIUS will harness AI to provide timely, reliable evidence synthesis on major societal challenges to policymakers across the globe.
www.ukri.org/news/ai-inve...
METIUS will harness AI to provide timely, reliable evidence synthesis on major societal challenges to policymakers across the globe.
www.ukri.org/news/ai-inve...
AI investment to transform global policy with scientific evidence
An £11.5 million AI-driven evidence synthesis project will turbocharge policymakers’ ability to quickly understand scientific evidence on important issues.
www.ukri.org
September 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Excited to launch ESRC's major investment in METIUS, led by @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social, with a host of global partners.
METIUS will harness AI to provide timely, reliable evidence synthesis on major societal challenges to policymakers across the globe.
www.ukri.org/news/ai-inve...
METIUS will harness AI to provide timely, reliable evidence synthesis on major societal challenges to policymakers across the globe.
www.ukri.org/news/ai-inve...
Reposted by Stian Westlake
We are pleased to announce the appointment of three new governors.
Karen Reid, Kim Graham and @stianwestlake.bsky.social bring experience spanning public service, academia, and policy innovation, reinforcing our commitment to building a healthier UK.
Read more⬇️
https://bit.ly/3Ie9Mhg
Karen Reid, Kim Graham and @stianwestlake.bsky.social bring experience spanning public service, academia, and policy innovation, reinforcing our commitment to building a healthier UK.
Read more⬇️
https://bit.ly/3Ie9Mhg
September 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
We are pleased to announce the appointment of three new governors.
Karen Reid, Kim Graham and @stianwestlake.bsky.social bring experience spanning public service, academia, and policy innovation, reinforcing our commitment to building a healthier UK.
Read more⬇️
https://bit.ly/3Ie9Mhg
Karen Reid, Kim Graham and @stianwestlake.bsky.social bring experience spanning public service, academia, and policy innovation, reinforcing our commitment to building a healthier UK.
Read more⬇️
https://bit.ly/3Ie9Mhg
Reposted by Stian Westlake
Designers!
We're looking to hire a graphic designer and typesetter based in London to oversee and do the production of our upcoming print edition at Works in Progress magazine.
If you like this work below, you might be the person for us!
More detail: www.worksinprogress.news/p/were-hirin...
We're looking to hire a graphic designer and typesetter based in London to oversee and do the production of our upcoming print edition at Works in Progress magazine.
If you like this work below, you might be the person for us!
More detail: www.worksinprogress.news/p/were-hirin...
September 12, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Designers!
We're looking to hire a graphic designer and typesetter based in London to oversee and do the production of our upcoming print edition at Works in Progress magazine.
If you like this work below, you might be the person for us!
More detail: www.worksinprogress.news/p/were-hirin...
We're looking to hire a graphic designer and typesetter based in London to oversee and do the production of our upcoming print edition at Works in Progress magazine.
If you like this work below, you might be the person for us!
More detail: www.worksinprogress.news/p/were-hirin...
Reposted by Stian Westlake
Announcing Generation New Era: the first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years.
It will study 30,000 children born in 2026 across the four nations of the UK.
Watch out for upcoming opportunities for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with the study team via @clscohorts.bsky.social
It will study 30,000 children born in 2026 across the four nations of the UK.
Watch out for upcoming opportunities for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with the study team via @clscohorts.bsky.social
UKRI announces first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years
A ground-breaking UK-wide scientific study will help improve the lives of future generations by studying 30,000 children born in 2026.
www.ukri.org
September 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Announcing Generation New Era: the first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years.
It will study 30,000 children born in 2026 across the four nations of the UK.
Watch out for upcoming opportunities for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with the study team via @clscohorts.bsky.social
It will study 30,000 children born in 2026 across the four nations of the UK.
Watch out for upcoming opportunities for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with the study team via @clscohorts.bsky.social
An important element of the new ESRC strategy we are working on is to make the promotion of economic growth an explicit goal of our work.
I've written a short piece about why we're doing this, and what that might involve.
magicsmoke.substack.com/p/promoting-...
I've written a short piece about why we're doing this, and what that might involve.
magicsmoke.substack.com/p/promoting-...
Promoting economic growth
Some thoughts on ESRC's role and ambitions
magicsmoke.substack.com
July 21, 2025 at 7:37 AM
An important element of the new ESRC strategy we are working on is to make the promotion of economic growth an explicit goal of our work.
I've written a short piece about why we're doing this, and what that might involve.
magicsmoke.substack.com/p/promoting-...
I've written a short piece about why we're doing this, and what that might involve.
magicsmoke.substack.com/p/promoting-...
Reposted by Stian Westlake
29 scholars reflect on their participation in adversarial collaborations:
“Rather than producing a clear 'winner,' the most common outcome was a deeper understanding of the problem space through the integration of opposing perspectives”
Open Access: doi.org/10.1007/s111...
#MetaSci #Methodology 🧪
“Rather than producing a clear 'winner,' the most common outcome was a deeper understanding of the problem space through the integration of opposing perspectives”
Open Access: doi.org/10.1007/s111...
#MetaSci #Methodology 🧪
July 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
29 scholars reflect on their participation in adversarial collaborations:
“Rather than producing a clear 'winner,' the most common outcome was a deeper understanding of the problem space through the integration of opposing perspectives”
Open Access: doi.org/10.1007/s111...
#MetaSci #Methodology 🧪
“Rather than producing a clear 'winner,' the most common outcome was a deeper understanding of the problem space through the integration of opposing perspectives”
Open Access: doi.org/10.1007/s111...
#MetaSci #Methodology 🧪
Open Philanthropy have been a terrific partner in the work of the UK Metascience Unit. Two things I’d mention in particular: (a) the very high quality of the metascience work OP do on their own account (eg Matt Clancy’s thoughtful articles)…
Meanwhile, Open Philanthropy www.openphilanthropy.org, founded by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and with a history of supporting effective altruism, is a co-funder of the UKRI metascience programme www.ukri.org/opportunity/...
Home | Open Philanthropy
Open Philanthropy's mission is to give as effectively as we can and share our findings so that anyone can build on our work.
www.openphilanthropy.org
July 16, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Open Philanthropy have been a terrific partner in the work of the UK Metascience Unit. Two things I’d mention in particular: (a) the very high quality of the metascience work OP do on their own account (eg Matt Clancy’s thoughtful articles)…
Nice write-up in @nature.com of the UK Metascience Unit's experiments with Distributed Peer Review.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to speed up peer review: make applicants mark one another
‘Distributed peer review’ of grants makes process more than twice as fast — and includes some cheat-prevention measures.
www.nature.com
July 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Nice write-up in @nature.com of the UK Metascience Unit's experiments with Distributed Peer Review.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Hanging out with the ESRC’s founder in Huddersfield, ahead of today’s Y-PERN conference - a great chance to discuss how innovation and devolution can help Yorkshire flourish!
June 27, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Hanging out with the ESRC’s founder in Huddersfield, ahead of today’s Y-PERN conference - a great chance to discuss how innovation and devolution can help Yorkshire flourish!
Delighted to see @ESRC's brilliant Executive Director of Research, Jen Gold, recognised in today's King's Birthday Honours for her contributions to metascience, evidence and research. Congratulations on the very well deserved honour!
June 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Delighted to see @ESRC's brilliant Executive Director of Research, Jen Gold, recognised in today's King's Birthday Honours for her contributions to metascience, evidence and research. Congratulations on the very well deserved honour!
Reposted by Stian Westlake
So I wrote a thing.
Here is the gist. My provocation was a bit of heresy aimed at my own tribe of decent, evidence-driven, apolitical policy wonks who quite sensibly worship at the altar of the arms-length institution, the predictable rule, politics-free decisions and so on ... 1/
Here is the gist. My provocation was a bit of heresy aimed at my own tribe of decent, evidence-driven, apolitical policy wonks who quite sensibly worship at the altar of the arms-length institution, the predictable rule, politics-free decisions and so on ... 1/
With tomorrow's Spending Review looming, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's @gilesyb.bsky.social warns the real productivity issue isn’t policy ideas, but the system’s inability to deliver. Is it just centralisation, or is govt now too complex to act? productivity.ac.uk/news/low-acc...
#SpendingReview
#SpendingReview
Low accountability institutionalism: my darkest fear - The Productivity Institute
Giles Wilkes argues that the UK's productivity crisis stems less from weak ideas and more from a government unable to turn policy into action.
productivity.ac.uk
June 10, 2025 at 1:47 PM
So I wrote a thing.
Here is the gist. My provocation was a bit of heresy aimed at my own tribe of decent, evidence-driven, apolitical policy wonks who quite sensibly worship at the altar of the arms-length institution, the predictable rule, politics-free decisions and so on ... 1/
Here is the gist. My provocation was a bit of heresy aimed at my own tribe of decent, evidence-driven, apolitical policy wonks who quite sensibly worship at the altar of the arms-length institution, the predictable rule, politics-free decisions and so on ... 1/
Reposted by Stian Westlake
Really interesting, very in-depth on how open science and replication efforts were funded and gradually grew more influential.
Great example of what thoughtful philanthropy can accomplish.
goodscience.substack.com/p/metascienc...
Great example of what thoughtful philanthropy can accomplish.
goodscience.substack.com/p/metascienc...
June 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Really interesting, very in-depth on how open science and replication efforts were funded and gradually grew more influential.
Great example of what thoughtful philanthropy can accomplish.
goodscience.substack.com/p/metascienc...
Great example of what thoughtful philanthropy can accomplish.
goodscience.substack.com/p/metascienc...
Something you don’t see any more: Tulameen raspberries. 10 years ago UK raspberries were Driscoll’s maravilla (sp?) out of season and Tulameen in season. Now they seem to be maravilla or Driscoll’s reyna all summer.
Can any soft fruit experts on here explain what changed?
Can any soft fruit experts on here explain what changed?
June 10, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Something you don’t see any more: Tulameen raspberries. 10 years ago UK raspberries were Driscoll’s maravilla (sp?) out of season and Tulameen in season. Now they seem to be maravilla or Driscoll’s reyna all summer.
Can any soft fruit experts on here explain what changed?
Can any soft fruit experts on here explain what changed?
Reposted by Stian Westlake
EXTREMELY BAD NEWS for economic research, per former BLS Commissioner @ericagroshen.bsky.social on LinkedIn.
BLS is suspending access to its restricted data "for the forseeable future." Applies to projects through the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers & onsite projects with BLS.
#EconSky
BLS is suspending access to its restricted data "for the forseeable future." Applies to projects through the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers & onsite projects with BLS.
#EconSky
June 6, 2025 at 6:54 PM
EXTREMELY BAD NEWS for economic research, per former BLS Commissioner @ericagroshen.bsky.social on LinkedIn.
BLS is suspending access to its restricted data "for the forseeable future." Applies to projects through the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers & onsite projects with BLS.
#EconSky
BLS is suspending access to its restricted data "for the forseeable future." Applies to projects through the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers & onsite projects with BLS.
#EconSky
Good to see this new, short, readable report on innovation policy from @britishacademy.bsky.social - and that its top recommendation is investing in "how we measure research and innovation inputs and outputs", something we are busy working on!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
Generating coherent and effective R&D and innovation policies
Given the important role innovation plays in productivity growth, policies to support R&D, technology and innovation are vital components of any effective economic strategy. This paper outlines five c...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
June 3, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Good to see this new, short, readable report on innovation policy from @britishacademy.bsky.social - and that its top recommendation is investing in "how we measure research and innovation inputs and outputs", something we are busy working on!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
Reposted by Stian Westlake
Could Trump's decision to go to war with US universities inadvertently save the UK's cash-strapped higher education sector?
UK uni sources have told me they are already seeing foreign students who had intended to go to the US coming here instead inews.co.uk/news/politic...
My @theipaper.com read:
UK uni sources have told me they are already seeing foreign students who had intended to go to the US coming here instead inews.co.uk/news/politic...
My @theipaper.com read:
Trump's 'act of self-harm' could accidentally save UK universities
The US President’s clampdown on foreign students could rescue British universities facing tighter restrictions on their own overseas recruits
inews.co.uk
May 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Could Trump's decision to go to war with US universities inadvertently save the UK's cash-strapped higher education sector?
UK uni sources have told me they are already seeing foreign students who had intended to go to the US coming here instead inews.co.uk/news/politic...
My @theipaper.com read:
UK uni sources have told me they are already seeing foreign students who had intended to go to the US coming here instead inews.co.uk/news/politic...
My @theipaper.com read:
Reposted by Stian Westlake
There is a new Executive Order that is closely related to many of the topics promoted in the science reform movement. It deserves a close read as it will surely have implications for how some promoted reforms are implemented in policy and practice. My hot take 🧵
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Restoring Gold Standard Science
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 7301 of title 5, United
www.whitehouse.gov
May 24, 2025 at 11:20 AM
There is a new Executive Order that is closely related to many of the topics promoted in the science reform movement. It deserves a close read as it will surely have implications for how some promoted reforms are implemented in policy and practice. My hot take 🧵
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Has anyone written a good account of the changes in English schools policy from say 2000-2020, looking at the interactions between government policy, developments in educational research, knowledge exchange (eg EEF), human capital (eg Teach First) and other factors?
May 24, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Has anyone written a good account of the changes in English schools policy from say 2000-2020, looking at the interactions between government policy, developments in educational research, knowledge exchange (eg EEF), human capital (eg Teach First) and other factors?
Reposted by Stian Westlake
Look who this "Abundance" review cites for the claim that the regulatory process isn't standing in the way of American nuclear.
May 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Look who this "Abundance" review cites for the claim that the regulatory process isn't standing in the way of American nuclear.
Reposted by Stian Westlake
UK commonly seen as having a scaling problem and too little late stage VC.
Compared to the US, absolutely. But we do pretty well amongst the also-ran (after Canada, Estonia).
Compared to the US, absolutely. But we do pretty well amongst the also-ran (after Canada, Estonia).
May 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
UK commonly seen as having a scaling problem and too little late stage VC.
Compared to the US, absolutely. But we do pretty well amongst the also-ran (after Canada, Estonia).
Compared to the US, absolutely. But we do pretty well amongst the also-ran (after Canada, Estonia).
Reposted by Stian Westlake
Very excited about our new paper on the large social returns to public R&D spending, which was prepared for the @NBER Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy and the Economy Conference, 2025
Recent evidence finds a strong causal link between public research and development and private-sector productivity growth. A study on the potential productivity effects from the CHIPS Act, from @fieldhouse.bsky.social and Karel Mertens https://www.nber.org/papers/w33780
May 16, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Very excited about our new paper on the large social returns to public R&D spending, which was prepared for the @NBER Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy and the Economy Conference, 2025