Very sad news today: Research Professional News to discontinue publication at end of 2026. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...

Research Professional News to discontinue publication at end of 2026 - Research Professional News

A message for readers about the publication’s closure and continued community access to past reporting

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An STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead Advisers are warning of a “major crisis” for UK research as an impact assessment is sent to ministers. Reporting by @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead - Research Professional News

Advisers warn of “major crisis” for UK research as impact assessment is sent to ministers

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Brexit 10 years on: as bad as universities feared? A decade after the vote, universities are still grappling with consequences in research and recruitment. Via @harrietswain.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Revealed: Office for Students spent almost £450,000 on Sussex court case. One of the most-read stories on our site this week. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Office for Students spent almost £450,000 on Sussex court case - Research Professional News

Experts say “extraordinary sum” for legal costs in free speech case will “raise eyebrows”

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Visa applications to study in UK at lowest ebb in four years. Applications during the year to May 2026 dipped below 400,000, ahead of tighter compliance regime. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Visa applications to study in UK at lowest ebb in four years - Research Professional News

Applications during the year to May 2026 dipped below 400,000, ahead of tighter compliance regime

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Can ‘high-stress’ interviews for grants save a system under pressure? Funders are using interviews to manage demand, but some worry about the consequences for applicants. Via @harrietswain.bsky.social. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...

New long read by me: Is academic freedom under threat in Europe? Despite Orbán’s ousting and upcoming legal protections, the continent is being urged to act I enjoyed writing this one. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

Is academic freedom under threat in Europe? - Research Professional News

Despite Orbán’s ousting and upcoming legal protections, the continent is being urged to act

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Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor. Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-i...

Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor - Research Professional News

Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses

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Could basic research income help fix a funding system in crisis? Thanks to Matthew Smith @healthhistory.bsky.social, Jonathan Grant @jonathancgrant.bsky.social and others for sharing their thoughts. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...

Could basic research income help fix a funding system in crisis? - Research Professional News

“Radical” solution gains attention as applications surge engulfs funders but lacks any serious experimentation

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European countries are struggling to improve research careers at a time when funding calls are “severely oversubscribed”, as the Dutch Research Council has put it. Via @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

Europe struggling with ‘severely oversubscribed’ funding calls - Research Professional News

Netherlands, Norway and UK outline efforts to improve research careers and bolster “system under pressure”

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Plans to cut more than 600 jobs at the University of Nottingham “pose significant systemic risks to elite-level research”, the UCU has warned. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Nottingham job cuts ‘pose systemic risks to research’, union warns - Research Professional News

Research-intensive university told it risks “intellectual stagnation” as 2,700 staff put at risk of redundancy

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After Orbán: what next for Hungary’s researchers? Five experts weigh up the damage done by authoritarianism, and they set out what needs to change. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

After Orbán: what next for Hungary’s researchers? - Research Professional News

Five experts weigh up the damage done by authoritarianism, and what needs to change

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Not long after rejoining Horizon Europe, Switzerland could lose access to EU funding once again. This would be 'catastrophic' for Swiss research, leaders have warned. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

Severing Swiss-EU research ties again ‘would be catastrophic’ - Research Professional News

Upcoming referendum on population size could plunge Swiss sector back into damaging isolation, leaders warn

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Getting ONS R&D stats 2 years after the fact always feels a bit...old news BUT, I do think there's some interesting stuff in there Namely, that while there were two years of real-terms growth in UK public R&D spending of ~9%, this pretty much took place outside funding for the university sector 🧵

There's definitely a reshaping of UK research going on Some of it is intentional - govt encouraging unis to specialise, UKRI directing funds for applied R&I to industrial strategy areas Some of it isn't - unis taking individual decisions to save costs that add up to impact on national capacity 🧵

Researchers say Hungary ‘should move fast on Horizon to end nationalist bubble’. They want to see Orbán-era university policies axed and action taken to regain access to Horizon Europe. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

Hungary ‘should move fast on Horizon to end nationalist bubble’ - Research Professional News

Calls for swift action to axe Orbán university policies and regain EU R&I programme access

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David Comerford: incentivising rigorous peer review would be a first line of defence against the rising tide of “resmearch”, where special interest groups or firms use AI to trawl large, public datasets and produce findings that seem to support their product or stance'. 1/3

Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 4mo ago

‘Fight AI-driven resmearch with points for peer review’. Professor pitches high-quality reviews as antidote to firms using scientific techniques for own commercial ends. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Researchers not happy about a 12-month wait to resubmit unsuccessful bids for MRC research grants Applicants had no idea in Sept 25 that the funding rate would be lower (possibly much lower) than in previous years BUT...important difference between the call text, and the MRC line to RPN though ...

Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Resubmission embargo branded ‘unfair’ as MRC calls reopen. Researchers caught out by reduced funding rates barred from re-applying for 12 months “unless invited”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Resubmission embargo branded ‘unfair’ as MRC calls reopen. Researchers caught out by reduced funding rates barred from re-applying for 12 months “unless invited”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Resubmission embargo branded ‘unfair’ as MRC calls reopen - Research Professional News

Researchers caught out by reduced funding rates barred from re-applying for 12 months “unless invited”

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Can we fight AI-driven 'bullshit science' with better peer review? Great to speak to @stir.ac.uk's David Comerford about his idea for a peer review points system designed to tackle the rising tide of 'resmearch'. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

‘Fight AI-driven resmearch with points for peer review’ - Research Professional News

Professor pitches high-quality reviews as antidote to firms using scientific techniques for own commercial ends

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Do falling success rates mean ‘the entire system needs a rethink’? My piece exploring whether anything other than more funding can ease applicants' frustrations. Thanks to @gemmaderrick.bsky.social, Karen Stroobants and others for their insights. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

Do falling success rates mean ‘the entire system needs a rethink’? - Research Professional News

Grant applicants are feeling frustration and career pressure as budgets fall and AI factor looms

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Can UKRI’s Sheffield showcase boost people’s support for R&D? Great to hear views from @sciencecampaign.bsky.social, Vivienne Parry and @andywestwood.bsky.social on whether schemes like these make a difference. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Can UKRI’s Sheffield showcase boost people’s support for R&D? - Research Professional News

Agency spotlights benefits of publicly funded research amid fears over “disconnect”

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Do we need a national strategy to end the ‘gridlock’ in achieving open access for books? A @britishacademy.bsky.social report calls for a joined-up approach, as "the systems are not currently in place to make it work". www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...

Academy urges end to ‘gridlock’ on open access for books - Research Professional News

British Academy report calls for sector-wide agreement ahead of next Research Excellence Framework

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Fantastic long read from @francesjones.bsky.social on why the physics cuts ‘could hurt government’s dash for growth’. Shrinking the UK's pool of experts, particularly early career researchers, will 'hurt UK industry over the long term'. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Physics cuts ‘could hurt government’s dash for growth’ - Research Professional News

UK scientists fear for the talent pipeline and homegrown expertise in AI and quantum

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Double-take detail in this interview with Edith Heard, head of the Crick Her French husband decided against getting a spouse visa because of the UK's "intrusive" immigration rules If that's happening with one of the UK's most senior scientists, how many others are being put off completely?

Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Head of @crick.ac.uk worries about ‘shift from funding basic research’ Edith Heard tells @francesjones.bsky.social scientists have “duty to speak up” as discovery research comes under pressure www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

Great to speak to Cefin Campbell about @plaidcymru.bsky.social's plans for research and universities if the party wins the May election in Wales.

Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Devolve UKRI funding so Wales gets ‘fair share’, urges @plaidcymru.bsky.social's Cefin Campbell Welsh nationalist party also plans universities review if it wins power in May election www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Universities are wasting up to £4.7bn each year through outdated digital systems. This is stifling innovation and research, @jisc.bsky.social has warned. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Universities ‘waste up to £4.7bn a year through old technology’ - Research Professional News

Outdated systems are hampering research productivity and harming innovation, according to Jisc

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Universities urged not to ‘drag feet’ on engaging with populists Institutions must engage now or risk US-style crackdown on academic freedom and research, @hepi-news.bsky.social paper says www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Universities urged not to ‘drag feet’ on engaging with populists - Research Professional News

Institutions must engage now or risk US-style crackdown on academic freedom and research, paper says

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Research networks are ‘diminishing by the day’ thanks to the surging number of redundancies in UK universities. Via @chrisjparr.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Research networks ‘diminishing by the day’ as redundancies hit - Research Professional News

Cross-institutional networks being thwarted by job pressures, warns academic after homicide detection project collapses

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Researchers need the UK to secure autonomy in AI. In hostile world, copyright changes and investment can bring sovereignty and innovation, says Ben White. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Researchers need the UK to secure autonomy in AI - Research Professional News

In hostile world, copyright changes and investment can bring sovereignty and innovation, says Ben White

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