Stock: ‘REF impact is undermining academic freedom’

Controversial philosopher Kathleen Stock says REF impact requirement discourages challenging work on difficult topics

Requirements to prove research impact for official university assessments are “having a negative effect” on academic freedom, philosopher Kathleen Stock has said.

Stock made headlines last year after resigning from the University of Sussex amid a huge row over her views on sex and gender, which spilled over into issues related to freedom of speech for academics and students. She strenuously denied accusations that she was transphobic, but faced sustained criticism from students and some colleagues over her views on the subject, and had to deal with an increasingly hostile campus.