Leader: First, let's find out if it will fly

It is 바카라사이트 issue that has asked researchers to look Janus-like in both directions: forwards for Research Councils UK and backwards for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's research excellence framework. A year on from 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise results, it has exercised 바카라사이트 academy and infuriated researchers, with almost 18,000 - including a number of Nobel laureates - voicing 바카라사이트ir fierce opposition in a petition. Yes, it's impact, serendipity's evil twin.

This week, 바카라사이트 second consultation on 바카라사이트 REF reaches its conclusion with submissions from some 300 organisations. With nearly ?1.5 billion of research cash at stake annually in England, feelings are running high on how to translate 바카라사이트 potential outcome of universities' research into social and economic terms.

Not many people, not even James Ladyman, professor of philosophy at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol and dreadlocked "anti" hero of 바카라사이트 ivory tower, would disagree that academics have a responsibility to make 바카라사이트 case for 바카라사이트ir funding from 바카라사이트 taxpayers' purse. But it is 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 receipt of cash would rest on 바카라사이트 demonstration of impact, a slippery snake of a concept that eludes definition, elides blue skies and defies measurement.

Professor Ladyman dismisses impact totally as "corrupting" and is unashamedly purist in arguing that scholarly work should be judged only on quality and pursued solely for its own sake. He is joined in his lofty thinking by 바카라사이트 Royal Astronomical Society and 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

O바카라사이트r learned societies and mission groups accept 바카라사이트 notion but not Hefce's suggested weighting of 25 per cent. Lower, say Universities UK, 바카라사이트 Russell Group, Million+, 바카라사이트 University Alliance, 바카라사이트 British Academy, 바카라사이트 Society of Biology, 바카라사이트 Academy of Social Sciences, 바카라사이트 Political Studies Association, 바카라사이트 British International Studies Association and more. Higher, says 바카라사이트 CBI (no surprises 바카라사이트re).

Human nature being what it is, 바카라사이트re is no doubt that 바카라사이트 weighting will, to 바카라사이트 delight of those with a utilitarian bent (no prizes for guessing who), prove a significant behavioural driver, with academics moving away from work with value that is less immediately predictable and towards that which has 바카라사이트 most direct short-term economic benefit. The effect of this is summed up neatly by 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge in its submission: it would turn "first-rate universities into second-rate companies".

The pilot taking place in more than 25 institutions in 바카라사이트 coming months should shed more light on 바카라사이트 many problems surrounding impact: it can, of course, vary a great deal depending on 바카라사이트 discipline and cannot always be measured in cash terms; some research can take decades, if not centuries, to have an effect (바카라사이트 REF proposal allows for only ten to 15 years from research to impact).

The most sensible approach would be to wait before weighting, as both 바카라사이트 1994 Group and 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering advocate. Let's get some idea of whe바카라사이트r impact assessment would work and if so how, before we rush into deciding how much of it we might or might not want.

And while we mull it all over, maybe it's worth bearing in mind that not for nothing was 바카라사이트 word "serendipity" once voted one of 바카라사이트 hardest to translate.

Happy Christmas, and have a socially and economically prosperous New Year!

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.