Blogs

NERC has published the Review of Taxonomy and Systematics in the UK, including a proposed strategic direction for the future.  Formal UK government/funders response expected in July.

The concept of Impact is of increasing importance in UK research policy: it is an essential policy tool in the Research Councils' strategies and is under development as part of the higher education Research Excellence Framework 2014.  Traditionally very much seen in terms of bibliometrics and commercial aspects such as patents, this is rapidly broadening to include public engagement, communication, policy engagement and societal issues.  Some resources of interest:

• LSE impact of the social sciences blog and resources - including an excellent handbook
• Impact resources from BBSRC
• RCUK excellence with impact resources
• NERC pathways to impact
• the HEFCE 2010 impact pilot