RoRI welcomes Matthew Lucas as Co-Chair

Matthew Lucas (on left) with James Wilsdon, Nosisa Dube and other RoRI colleagues in Hannover, Germany for the December 2023 RoRI Consortium Meeting

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Lucas as RoRI’s new Co-Chair, and to thank Gert Balling as he comes to the end of his term in the role.

Matthew Lucas is Executive Director at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), a Core Partner of RoRI.

Matthew’s appointment comes at a time of growing momentum for research on research in Canada. RoRI Core Partners – SSHRC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Michael Smith Health Research BC – have recently announced $2.7 million in funding for 14 research teams through the Research-on-Research Joint Initiative.

James Wilsdon, Executive Director of RoRI, said:

We’re delighted to welcome Matthew Lucas as RoRI’s new Co-Chair. Matthew and his SSHRC colleagues have been some of RoRI’s most engaged partners over recent years, and it’s great to have a Co-Chair from Canada, reflecting the depth and breadth of our links across the Canadian research system. The next two years will be crucial for RoRI, as we complete several big projects, start planning for our next phase, and seek to deliver on our mission to transform research systems through metascience. We look forward to working with Matthew to realise all of this potential and more.

Matthew joins Co-Chairs Ludo Waltman (CWTS, Leiden) and Katrin Milzow (Swiss National Science Foundation).

We also extend our sincere thanks to Gert Balling, who steps down after a period of committed and thoughtful leadership.

Reflecting on Gert’s contribution, Katrin Milzow said:

It has been a privilege to serve alongside Gert as Co-Chair of the Partnership Board. I have been impressed by his deep expertise and calm, steady energy, as well as his unwavering commitment to making sure RoRI brings concrete benefits to its members. Gert is both collegial and deeply constructive, with a remarkable ability to unite diverse perspectives whilst ensuring every voice is heard. We will greatly miss his thoughtful leadership, collegial spirit and positive influence.

RoRI looks forward to working with Matthew Lucas in this new role as we complete major projects and plan for our next phase of work.