Professor Dinah Birch CBE
Our Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact, Professor Dinah Birch, has been announced as chair of one of the four main panels for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment.
Dinah will lead the main panel for arts and humanities, providing leadership to the sub-panels that undertake the assessment for REF 2021. Leading up to 2021, along with the other main panel chairs, she will also advise the four UK Higher Education funding bodies on a range of REF-related issues including the further development of the framework.
Dinah and the other main panel chairs will take up their roles later this year, once the outcomes of the consultation on the new REF are announced and further appointments to the REF panels have been made.
Commenting on her appointment, Dinah said: “I’m honoured to have been appointed to this national role in shaping the development of REF 2021, and I’m looking forward to making a positive contribution to a successful exercise.”
Dr Kim Hackett, REF manager, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome the REF Main Panel Chairs to the exercise. These four individuals bring significant research expertise and experience of research assessment to these roles, and will provide strong leadership and guidance in all aspects of the REF. I look forward to working with them to ensure we deliver a successful and robust REF2021.’
Dinah has previously announced her decision to step down as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact, with her successor Professor Anthony Hollander taking up the role in September. Dinah will continue to lead on the University’s contribution to celebrating the 10th anniversary of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture.
The Main Panel Chairs (designate) for each of the four main panel areas are:
•Main Panel A: Medicine, health and life sciences– Professor John Iredale, Pro Vice-Chancellor Health, University of Bristol
•Main Panel B: Physical sciences, engineering and mathematics– Professor David Price, Vice-Provost (Research), University College London
•Main Panel C: Social sciences– Professor Jane Millar OBE, Professor of Social Policy and former Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, University of Bath.
•Main Panel D: Arts and humanities– Professor Dinah Birch CBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and