Departmental news
Professor James Fenske becomes a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences
Professor James Fenske is one of 63 new Fellows appointed this week to the Academy of Social Sciences, the national academy of academics, practitioners and learned societies in the social sciences.
Professor Fenske’s work focuses on economic history and development economics. He joins existing Warwick Economics fellows Professor Sascha Becker, Professor Sonia Bhalotra and Emeritus Professor Mark Harrison.
The Academy’s FellowshipLink opens in a new window comprises 1,700 leading social scientists from academia, the public, private and third sectors. All Academy Fellows are elected for their excellence in their fields and their substantial contributions to social science for public benefit. Selection is through an independent peer review which recognises their excellence and impact.
10 September 2025
Warwick economist to play key role in REF 2029
Professor Francesco Squintani has been appointed to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 Econometrics and Economics sub-panel following an open recruitment process which searched for academics able to command the respect of their research peers and the wider academic community.
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for evaluating the quality of research across the university sector and other higher education providers (HEIs). REF scores are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of research funding.
Professor Squintani is one of 17 Warwick researchersLink opens in a new window appointed to the REF’s Main panels and Sub-panels. Main panels will offer expert guidance on the REF process as a whole, while sub-panel members will be responsible for developing discipline-specific assessment criteria, defining how quality will be judged, and evaluating the submissions within their field.
Professor Squintani said:
“I am deeply honoured that I have been entrusted with this task. The REF is the most advanced national research ranking exercise worldwide. Several studies have shown a large positive impact of the REF on the quality of UK academic research, and higher education more broadly. It is one of the essential components of UK academia that makes the UK a major worldwide powerhouse in tertiary education.”
Head of the Department of Economics Professor Jeremy Smith said:
“We are delighted that Professor Squintani has been appointed to the REF 2029 sub-panel. His deep expertise and commitment to research excellence make him an ideal contributor to this important national process.
“His appointment also reflects the strength and reputation of Warwick Economics - Francesco becomes the fourth member of the Department appointed to REF sub-panels over the last 3 cycles, following in the footsteps of Nick Crafts, Ben Lockwood and Bishu Gupta.”
Commenting on the appointments, REF Director Rebecca Fairbairn said:
“It’s been inspiring to see the depth, strength, and commitment of the UK’s research community, and I’m very much looking forward to welcoming the new panel members to the team.”
- Read more about the REF 2029 Panels: https://2029.ref.ac.uk/panels/
Prof Greg Challis appointed REF 2029 Panellist
Our thanks and appreciation go to Prof Greg Challis who has been appointed to serve on the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 Chemistry sub-panel, in recognition of his expertise and leadership in chemical biology.
WMG academic to help shape the future of climate science and policy
Dr Taofeeq Ibn-Mohammed, Associate Professor in Sustainable Systems Engineering at WMG, University of Warwick, has been appointed as a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7).
Established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988, the IPCC assesses the science related to climate change. Since 1990, when it launched its first Assessment Report, it has been sharing knowledge on the causes and potential impacts of climate change, along with potential responses. The IPCC reports are widely seen as the definitive global assessments of climate change science, impacts, and mitigation.
An academic in sustainable systems engineering, Dr Ibn-Mohammed will lend his expertise to the IPCC as part of ‘Working Group III: Mitigation of Climate Change’. The group focuses on the limitation and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and explores all areas of mitigation, from technical feasibility and cost to the environments that would enable measures to be put in place.
University of Warwick shortlisted for Bhattacharyya Award
University of Warwick has been shortlisted for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Bhattacharyya AwardLink opens in a new window for its sustained collaboration with the Tata Group.
The Bhattacharyya Award is an annual award presented by the Academy to celebrate long-term collaboration between academia and industry. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, it was launched in 2019 in tribute to Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, the founder of WMG, University of Warwick.
The Award is worth £25,000 to the winner, who will be announced at the end of October. All the shortlisted entries, including the University, are operating at the interface of high-level research, pushing innovation, or creating new technologies for use in a commercial.
As Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Croft, says: “This is partnership with purpose, driving innovation, delivering sustainability, and securing the future of the UK industry globally.”
These connections create a talent pipeline for companies while addressing critical skills gaps within these industries. Universities attract financial investment and ambitious students, while both sides discover new pathways to solutions and gain access to cutting-edge research.
Flying Lifesavers: Drones could soon respond to cardiac arrests
Researchers at the University of Warwick have teamed up with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust and autonomous drone specialists SkyBound for a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) study to test the feasibility of drone-delivered AEDs.
New imaging techniques show what happens inside your bones during hip replacement surgery
Pioneering imaging methods from WMG have revealed how the surgical process impact bones and implant stability during hip replacements.
Uncemented hip replacement surgery uses implants with roughened surfaces designed to allow the patient’s bone to grow directly onto the implant, creating a strong, natural biological bond. Unlike cemented implants, which rely on bone cement that can degrade and fracture, uncemented implants depend on this natural bone integration for long-term stability.
With uncemented hip replacements expected to increase fivefold among younger adults by 2030Link opens in a new window, optimising surgical technique has become critical to meet growing demand and ensure lasting success.
In research from WMG University of Warwick, in collaboration with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, researchers have conducted in-depth studies using cadaver specimens, high-resolution micro-CT imagingLink opens in a new window, and digital volume correlation (DVC)Link opens in a new window to investigate how common surgical practices influence bone response during uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Former PhD student publishes monograph on Cross-border Bank Crisis Management in ASEAN
Sharon Wassamon Kun-amornpong, who studied at Warwick Law School from 2018-2023 under the supervision of Professor Dalvinder Singh has published a monograph based on her PhD thesis. The monograph, titled ‘The Financial Trilemma and Cross-border Bank Crisis Management in ASEAN’ was published by Palgrave Macmillan.
CellMet: Extracting 3D shape and topology metrics from confluent cells within tissues
A new paper from the Saunders lab introduces CellMet, an open-source toolkit that extracts 3D cell shape and topology metrics within dense tissue. Going beyond basic measures like volume and surface area, CellMet reveal detailed morphological features - such as twisting shape - and highlights how cells interact and organise themselves. From organoids to Drosophila embryos, CellMet provides a powerful framework to reveal hidden tissue architecture.
Read the paper.Link opens in a new window
CellMetLink opens in a new window
WMG academic to judge QS Reimagine Education Awards
Dr Di Li — Associate Professor and Deputy Head (Skills and Education Engagement) of the Business Innovation, Supply Chain and Trade Group at WMG, University of Warwick — has been selected as a judge for this year’s QS Reimagine Education Awards. These prestigious, international awards recognise innovative projects, technologies, and pedagogical approaches that enhance learning outcomes, employability, and educational equity. As a judge, Dr Li will review submissions from around the world, enabling her to engage directly with cutting-edge educational innovations.