Martin Smith
Head of Policy Lab, Wellcome. Science policy things, puns, cats
- Chi Onwurah notes a strong alignment between the UK's three 'buckets' for R&D investments and the three 'pillars' of Horizon Europe. On the balance between the buckets - Ian Chapman highlights the contirbution that other govt depts make to Bucket 2 if you were to look beyond UKRI
- Ian Chapman: no move away from applicant-led funding at UKRI. BBSRC funding pause is a temporary - 'a matter of a few weeks' before they move to an always-open system (as at e.g. EPSRC, AHRC). MRC pause will extend to early summer, and then will open again.
- .@georgefreemanmp.bsky.social asks Ian Chapman whether the National Science and Technology Council - a UK Cabinet Cttee - is still meeting & if he presents to it? Ian can't answer - but that's because the NSTC was quietly scrapped in November, and no-one has noticed yet www.gov.uk/government/p...
- Reposted by Martin SmithSome initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵 www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
- Quite timely that Sir Ian Chapman, UKRI CEO, will be in front of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on Tuesday next week… 👀
- BREAKING: UK physics research and science facilities face ‘substantial’ cuts Science and Technology Facilities Council seeks £162m cost savings, with existing projects facing axe Scoop by @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
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- Reposted by Martin SmithIf you're looking for a sign to switch careers: this is the sign.
- Who could fail to enjoy Wikipedia’s ‘List of lists of lists’, which of course includes the article itself on the list, goven that it is a list of lists en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
- On this day in 2001, Wikipedia was born 🎂 25 years of open, collaborative knowledge, written and cared for by people around the world, one edit at a time. What’s your favourite Wikipedia article, fact, or memory? #Wikipedia25 #OnThisDay #OpenKnowledge
- Reposted by Martin SmithAfter a period of inactivity, we are reactivating this account as a primary channel for connecting with the research community. We'll be sharing new outputs, our latest guidance, and commentary on all things research integrity. Give us a follow and join the conversation💬
- Interesting article. Splitting UKRI into three completely separate orgs would require primary legislation - but altering the structure of UKRI itself to reflect the 3 buckets (ie ditching the research council structure) can be done by secondary legislation…
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- Possible restaurant names: Prawn Hundred and Eighty Double Fourtune Cookie Rice to the Challenge You Dim Sum, You Lose Some Panda to the Crowd The Hong Kong Oche Club www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/...
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- 🎉Measures of research environments are now going to play a bigger part in the REF. Improving research culture is the foundation of future excellence - everyone involved in research culture should be pleased with today's Announcement. Brace yourself for my SPRE acronym quip... #culture
- Find out more in today's op ed from Wellcome's CEO John-Arne Rottingen www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/refs...
- AI accidentally manages to add another layer to this poem. A profound message for our times.
- “Big change sometimes results from small steps. Incorporating a supportive research culture into the REF is one such step. Bullying and harassment are serious problems, and excellence in research and a supportive environment are not mutually exclusive” www.nature.com/articles/d41...
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- Reposted by Martin SmithUK health research is getting a £27 million boost. We’re partnering with @acmedsci.bsky.social to support biomedical and health researchers across the UK. From cross-sector collaboration to support for clinical academics, this funding will address some of UK health research’s biggest challenges.
- Accurate AI summary of the entirety of Twitter
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- Players from Patcham Silver Band supporting the Salvation Army today in Brighton for Remembrance Sunday. Bram (in the SA hat) has played the Last Post here since 1967
- Reposted by Martin Smith“Science has recently been the professed interest of just a handful of MPs… But this year, something has changed.” Our Director Tracey Brown explores Parliament's growing interest among MPs in science and research, and how #EvidenceWeek helps bridge the gap between policymakers and researchers.
- Opinion: “This year something has changed. More than 100 MPs’ offices signed up to January’s Evidence Week 2024, many of them immediately...MPs asked a host of questions on topics such as health data, post-Covid school attendance, pollution and transport.” 🖊️ Tracey Brown ow.ly/SuUe50XnJ5W
- The Riker minifig comes with a lil’ trombone 😍 www.lego.com/en-gb/produc...
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- More info on UKRI allocations published today (more, but not full - Council-by-Council to be published in Dec). Also note that footnote 5 confirms that the 25/26 figure isn’t comparable with 26/27 - sigh www.gov.uk/government/p...
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- A helpful reminder from @karenstroobants.bsky.social and Frances Downey of why improving research culture is needed and the work that PCE plans are building on www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
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- “In the recent DSIT survey of the UK Research & Development workforce, only 52 per cent of higher education respondents said the culture of their organisation enabled them to perform their best work, compared to 85 per cent in the private sector.”
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- “A rollback of PCE risks stalling momentum on essential efforts toward research culture change” blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
- “The levy is a terrible policy that will damage universities at a time when they are already facing financial challenges” Russell Group pulling no punches here www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/respons...
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- “Sustainable research excellence depends on the people who make it happen. Environments that support career development, recognise diverse contributions, and foster inclusion don’t just feel better to work in – they produce better research”
- Incredibly timely work from CaSE - a set of case studies that illustrate the problems researchers face with the immigration system
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- I don’t think this should be a surprise, because (a) the # of prizewinners is small, and (b) I’d guess that almost all of them would be eligible for other Global Talent routes too. The focus on prizewinners is a politically easy thing to sell but misses the ‘team science’ & high potential ECRs
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- Reposted by Martin SmithNew Frontier Economics report, commissioned by AMRC and @wellcometrust.bsky.social, showcases the extensive benefits of non-commercial clinical research. It reveals the ‘triple dividend’ this research brings to the UK: unlocking growth, supporting the NHS and improving lives. bit.ly/3KrW7nf
- “Job security and support are fundamental to excellence, not luxuries or distractions” - a reminder of what’s a stake in discussions of how to drive improvements in research culture www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
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- Shower thoughts: is the Treasury ministers WhatsApp group called ‘Chat GDP’. And if not, what can I do to bring this about.
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