The introduction of an institutional-level submission for the environment was a key recommendation of an independent review of the REF, led by Lord Stern. The pilot panel will explore the feasibility of an institutional-level assessment, to inform inclusion of this element in future exercises. It will provide recommendations to the funding bodies and publish its findings in 2022. Information about the institutional-level environment will be provided to the 34 REF sub-panels for context. It will not be scored by the sub-panels, and the pilot assessment will not contribute to the outcomes of REF 2021.
The panel is chaired by Professor Chris Day, Vice Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, and includes senior research leaders with a breadth of discipline expertise across a range of UK HEIs, as well as individuals with expertise in the wider use and benefits of research, and those with senior-level experience in research management.
Expressions of interest for membership of the panel were invited from any individual meeting the criteria set out in the person specification. In appointing the panel, the funding bodies have sought to ensure the panel membership reflects a spread of research expertise, diversity in size and type of HEI, and in user and international perspectives.
Membership list
| Name | Institution |
| Professor Chris Day (Chair) | Newcastle University |
| Professor John Cattell | Historic England |
| Dr Stephen Conway | University of Oxford |
| Professor Nandini Das | University of Liverpool |
| Professor Michael Fitzpatrick | Coventry University |
| Professor Sir Barry Ife | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
| Professor Andrew Jones | City, University of London |
| Professor Linda King | Oxford Brookes University |
| Professor Fiona Lettice | University of East Anglia |
| Professor Dewi Lewis | Independent |
| Professor Weiru Liu | University of Bristol |
| Professor Ruth Northway | University of South Wales |
| Professor Mark Ormerod | Keele University |
| Professor Murray Pittock | University of Glasgow |
| Professor Michael Rayner | University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Dr Rosa Scoble | Brunel University London |
| Professor Martin Tillotson | University of Leeds |
| Mr Alisdair Wotherspoon | Independent |
| Professor Dianne Berry (Observer) | University of Reading |