Discover the story behind the Hidden REF Competition in this special episode of What the REF. James and Lindsay explain how the initiative celebrates the vital but often overlooked contributions that keep research running—from software and datasets to infrastructure, engagement, and the people behind the scenes. Learn how the competition works, who is involved, and why the research community’s submissions matter. With volunteer panels, community-driven categories, and real stories of recognition and impact, the Hidden REF shines a spotlight on the hidden roles and outputs that traditional research assessment often misses. Plus, hear what is new for the 2026 competition and how you can get involved.

Interested in joining an expert group? You can sign up here: https://hidden-ref.org/expert-groups/

Our hosts are all members of the Hidden REF committee based at the universities of Southampton and Bristol: James Baker and Lyndsey Ballantyne, and our producer is Ben Thomas.

Find out more about the HiddenREF campaign at Hidden-REF.org

'What the REF' is made possible by the Embedding Trust in Evaluation (E-TIE) research grant from Research England.

Want to get in touch? Email: [email protected]

WTreF is co-produced by Simon Hettrick, Gemma Derrick, James Baker and Ben Thomas. Video and Sound production by Ben Thomas.

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