Research Excellence Framework 2021

The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) has shown that the majority of our assessed research is world leading in terms of originality, significance, and rigour.

Today the UK funding bodies have published the results of the UK’s most recent national research assessment exercise, the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Research from the Department of Earth Sciences was submitted to the Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences Unit of Assessment along with research from the Oxford Museum of Natural History.

In Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences 63% of Oxford’s submission was judged to be 4* (the highest score available, for research quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance, and rigour).

Head of Department and Chair of Geophysics, Professor Mike Kendall FRS has said:

‘I would like to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication in preparing our REF submission – our collegiality shone through during this process. Our results show that the majority of our assessed research is of 4* quality, and we have made significant improvements in the impact of our research. What isn’t readily visible is the breadth and depth of our research. We are entering a very exciting time of growth and activity in exciting new areas, in a young and vibrant department.’