The British Sociological Association welcomes the appointment of Professor Claire Alexander (University of Manchester) as Chair and Professor Lucinda Platt (London School of Economics and Political Science) as Deputy Chair of the Sociology sub-panel for REF 2029.  Both are distinguished scholars whose expertise and leadership will be invaluable to the discipline during this important assessment cycle.

Appointed by the four UK higher education funding bodies, in collaboration with the REF Main Panel Chairs and Advisory Panel members, the sub-panel chairs will lead the process of criteria setting later this year and oversee the assessment of research in the discipline.

Full panel membership will be confirmed in summer 2025, with attention to ensuring a wide range of expertise across sociology.

We recognise the significance of these appointments for the discipline and look forward to the REF 2029 process taking shape.