3rd April 2025, 9.00am
The Royal Society, London
Join us at the Research Professional News Live Summit in 2025 to engage in discussions on the outlook for university research, with a focus on crucial topics including the Research Excellence Framework (REF2029), research integrity, innovation and diversity and inclusion through panel discussions and keynote sessions. The event will be hosted by our editorial team and is a full day event.
We are delighted to announce our two keynote speakers:
Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair, Research England and
Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West and Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.
We are also pleased to announce the full agenda and confirmed speakers.
9.00-9.45: Arrivals
9.45-10.00: Welcome: Sarah Richardson, Editor-in-chief, Research Professional News
10.00-10.45: Keynote session: Prof Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair, Research England.
Session chair: Martin McQuillan, Senior Editor, 8am Playbook, Research Professional News.
10.45-11.15: Morning coffee
11.15-12.15: How can we position UK university research to drive ‘inclusive growth’?
The UK’s Labour government has set out its aim to drive economic growth in ‘every part of the country’, making ‘everyone, not just a few, better off’. This discussion will consider how university research can best support this ambition— and what policymakers and institutional leaders might need to change for it to do so.
Confirmed speakers:
Dr Annette Bramley, Director, N8 Research Partnership
Dr Alicia Greated, Executive Director, Campaign for Science and Engineering
Professor Graeme Reid, Professor of Science and Research Policy, University College London
Stephanie Smith, Deputy Director of Policy, Russell Group
Professor Andy Westwood, Policy Director, the Productivity Institute and Professor of Public Policy, Government and Business, University of Manchester
Session chair: John Morgan, Managing Editor, Research Professional News.
12.15-13.00: Research for the real world: defining and demonstrating societal impact
Governments, funders and academic institutions are seeking to better measure and recognise research that benefits society, as understanding of research success is increasingly moving beyond traditional publication metrics. With a plethora of possible interpretations of societal impact, this session will look at how to ensure the real-world benefits of research are properly captured.
Confirmed speakers:
Dr Christopher Daley, Head of Evidence and Analysis, London School of Economics Research and Innovation
Dr Sumi David, Executive Director of Research Services, University of Glasgow
Dr Dmytro Filchenko, Senior Director, Institute for Scientific Information
Professor Kathryn Oliver, Professor of Evidence and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council
Session Chair: Chris Parr, Senior Editor, Research Professional News.
13.00-14.15: Lunch, including Clarivate presentation
14.15-15.15: Research integrity: combining forces against rising threats
In an era increasingly characterised by disinformation, maintaining trust in research is paramount. But cases of research fraud and misconduct continue to increase, fueled by a rise in problems including misuse of AI, paper mills and journal hijacking. Meanwhile, concern persists over possible unintended consequences of changes in the research ecosystem—including in relation to research assessment and the move to open-access publishing. Amid unprecedented challenges, how should institutions, funders, publishers and others work together to uphold trust?
Confirmed speakers:
Adam Day, CEO and Founder, Clear Skies
Chris Graf, Research Integrity Director, Springer Nature
Dr Nandita Quaderi, Senior Vice President and Editor-in-chief, Web of Science
Stian Westlake, Executive Chair, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Dr Nick Wise, Research Integrity Manager, Taylor and Francis
Session Chair: Craig Nicholson, Senior Editor, Europe, Research Professional News.
15.15-15.45 Afternoon break
15.45-16.45: Championing diverse research careers in an age of financial pressure
The need for research environments that support diverse researchers and research careers is well established—but for many institutions, there is still a long way to go for this to be a common reality. With many universities facing budget cuts and staff under increasing pressure, how can we ensure the sector keeps moving forward on this critical issue?
Confirmed speakers:
Professor Lynn Ang, UCL Institute of Education Pro-Director and Vice Dean (Research) and Deputy Chair, REF People and Diversity advisory panel
Professor Jason Arday, Professor of Sociology and Education, University of Cambridge
Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair, Research England
Smita Jamdar, Partner & Head of Education, Shakespeare Martineau
Professor Lilian Otaye-Ebede, Professor in HRM & OB, University of Liverpool, and race equity expert and consultant
Session Chair: Harriet Swain, Associate Editor, Research Professional News.
16.45-17.30: Keynote session: Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West and Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Session Chair: Sarah Richardson, Editor-in-chief, Research Professional News.
17.30: Chair’s close and networking reception
