Report Launch: The Future of Interdisciplinary Research Beyond REF2021

How should the UK’s research system recognise and foster interdisciplinary research?

From the immediate crisis of COVID-19 to long term challenges such as our ageing society and climate change, the major issues facing the world require an interdisciplinary approach to solve.

Our new report makes recommendations on how we can increase the quantity of interdisciplinary research and address current barriers within the research ecosystem. We look at the future of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) as well as related factors such as the publishing landscape.

We commissioned Research Consulting to carry out 1-1 interviews and focus groups with a range of experts across the sector. The project has brought together a Steering Group comprised of representatives from across the research landscape, including The Royal Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics, CaSE, Royal Society of Biology, Russell Group and GuildHE.

Panellists included representatives from the sector including Research England/UKRI, Russell Group, Research Consulting and The Physiological Society.