The results of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) were announced today.
Professor Terry Lyons, London Mathematical Society (LMS) President, commented: ‘The Research Excellence Framework (REF) demonstrates the scale and world-leading quality of mathematical research conducted in UK universities. The critical underpinning role of mathematical research to the UK economy is substantial, measured in the hundreds of billions, and well documented. The impact profiles within the REF only capture a very small proportion of this contribution, although they certainly demonstrate how impact exists across the country and how it is well correlated with excellent research output.
‘The Society is pleased to note that of the 1,930 FTE UK mathematical sciences researchers returned as part of unit of assessment 10, Mathematical Sciences, over 83% of their overall inputs were internationally excellent. Quality and volume are important jointly to the societal contribution of mathematical sciences, and it is worth noting that the costs for those mathematical researchers returned are extremely small when compared with the contribution that mathematical sciences makes overall to the UK economy, as evidenced by the Deloitte Report - Measuring the Economic Benefits of Mathematical Science Research in the UK.
‘Virtually everybody in mathematical sciences submitted to the REF process is doing great research. The depth and wide distribution of this excellent quality research is something the Society believes must be celebrated and built upon to achieve an even better synergy between these talented and creative individuals, and the wider educational and economic activity of our society’.