Funders unite over improved guidance on animal research

New protocols require grant-seekers to show that they will apply 3Rs rigorously, Zoe Corbyn writes

Grant winners

MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL- Award winner: Philip CowenInstitution: University of OxfordValue: £1,698,664Clinical psychopharmacology of 5-HT- Award winner: Mark JohnsonInstitution: Birkbeck, University...

'We shouldn't believe that biofuels are a silver bullet'

Julia King, charged with the review of low-carbon cars, talks to John Gill about energy efficiency

Measures without meaning

Peer review lets us reward excellence when we see it; spurious 'absolute' standards do not, says Ron Johnston

What will we do for those whose parents can't work the system?

We know what must be done to widen access, says Deborah Eyre, who hopes the latest review will finally grasp the nettle

REF could leave universities with 'huge' bill, expert warns

Australian model shows that institutions bear data-gathering burden. Zoe Corbyn reports

At writ's end, lecturers may see students in court

If developments in US higher education today are an indicator of tomorrow's trends in the UK, students may want to think twice about the way they treat their lecturers.Anecdotal evidence from across...

Log on to share pain of rejection

Researcher's tale of grant denial is on YouTube to show reality of life in science, writes Zoe Corbyn

The week in higher education

- Four months ago Britain enjoyed a priceless reputation, earned over many decades, as a world leader in pure physics. Not any more." This was the message of The Times's leader column on 1 May,...

REF may cause metrics 'creep', analyst warns

The use of statistical indicators to judge research quality is likely to "creep" into the social sciences under the system being set up to replace the research assessment exercise, a sector analyst...

Hefce backtracks to test post-RAE plans

Funding council's 'pilot exercise' goes back on original REF proposals. Zoe Corbyn reports

AHRC plans spark mixed response

Humanities subject leaders welcome meeting but remain worried about funding, writes Zoe Corbyn

International collaboration in research up 50%

Researchers at UK universities are involved in 50 per cent more international collaborations today than they were ten years ago, a study has found.The report published this week shows that...

Cartoon by Ham

On the B-side of life

Muscians find it easier than academics to set their egos aside, be generous to their peers and play sidemen for a true great, argues Tara Brabazon