Simon Hettrick
Professor Simon Hettrick is Director of Strategy at the Software Sustainability Institute, and a Director of the Southampton Research Software Group.
The Hidden REF:
changing our approach to value and recognition
Simon Hettrick
12 June 2025 - Driving research excellence, Nottingham ORCID: 0000-0002-6809-5195
If we don't recognise everyone who is vital to research,
we limit our ability to conduct research.
Researcher
Software
Engineer
Research
Software
Engineer
>10,000 RSEs worldwide
Image courtesy Dan Katz
Use software
Fundamental to results
69%
92%
n=417
Why did it take until the 2010s to recognise that the people who create research software are important?
WHY ARE WE HERE?
Discovery, reliability, reproducibility, transparency.
Publications are the Bhurj Khalifa
Height = 830 m
Exhibitions are a typical UK bungalow
Height = 3.5 m
Software is a lego person wearing a top hat
Height = 5 cm
What are the dangers of using...
Publications
...as the only metric of research success?
Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome
- Charlie Munger
People who are
vital to research
People who are named in publications
Academics
RSEs, Technicians,
Librarians, Data
Stewards, PRISMS,
RMAs... and more
The Venn of academic importance and recognition
What if publications weren't the only way to measure research success?
Recognising all research outputs and every role that makes research possible
www.hidden-ref.org
The Hidden Role
| CC-BY William Murphy |
Data stewards and managers, Librarians, Technicians, Lived Experience Contributors (including patients), Research Software Engineers, PRISMS (Professional Research Investment and Strategy Managers), Professional Services Personnel, Public Engagement Professionals (PEPs), RMAs (Research Managers and Administrators) and Clinical Trials Managers.
What changed?
BREAKING
NEWS
2025-2030
What are the barriers to change?
- Tradition & lack of awareness
- Lack of guidance
- Inherent difficulty of comparison
- Fear of affecting funding
Text
Thinktank, Birmingham
7-8 October 2025
We want to hear from you!
- linkedin.com/company/hidden-ref
- Bluesky: @hiddenref
- YouTube: @HiddenREFcampaign
If we recognise everyone who is vital to research,
we advance our ability to conduct research.
Thank you!
@sjh5000
ORCID: 0000-0002-6809-5195, EPSRC Grant no: EP/S021779/1
Licence
© Simon Hettrick. These slides are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International : https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Link to slides
https://slides.com/simonhettrick/driving-research-2025
Image credits
- Earth rise: public domain with thanks to NASA
- Bhurj Khalifa: CC-BY-SA courtesy Donaldytong
- Bungalow: CC-BY-SA courtesy Peter Wyatt
- Lego man: CC-BY courtesy Brickset
-
Newsflash bacground: Shubham Dhage on Unsplash
Driving Research Excellence - Technicians' event
By Simon Hettrick
Driving Research Excellence - Technicians' event
Presentation for Driving Research Excellence through institutional support for technical and specialist capability in Nottingham.
