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Annex B: UoA descriptors and taxonomies – Main Panel B

Main Panel A
Main Panel C
Main Panel D

Published: 11 November 2026

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UoA 7: Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Descriptor

UoA 7 comprises: solid earth geology; earth surface environment; atmospheric systems; ocean systems; terrestrial hydrosphere; cryospheric systems; biosphere and ecosystems; earth system science; and applied earth and environmental sciences. As indicated in the taxonomy, the latter includes: pollution; ecotoxicology; management of waste, water, air quality and biosphere; environment and public health; natural hazards risks and mitigation; renewable and non-renewable natural resources; conservation; and engineering geology; earth and environmental ethics and/or social science. The sub-panel expects that there will be themes that cut across these disciplines, such as: theoretical approaches; modelling approaches; molecular biology, genomics and proteomics; innovative measurement and monitoring systems; data science and analysis; and machine learning approaches.

Broad research areas for determining representativeness of submissions

  1. Solid earth geology
  2. Earth surface environment
  3. Atmospheric systems
  4. Ocean systems
  5. Terrestrial hydrosphere
  6. Cryospheric systems
  7. Biosphere and ecosystems
  8. Earth system science
  9. Applied earth and environmental sciences
  10. Earth and environmental ethics and/or social sciences
  11. Other for the purpose of aggregation

Research specialism to inform allocation of outputs to assessors

Solid earth geology

  1. Geochemistry
  2. Geodynamics
  3. Geophysics
  4. Mineralogy, mineral physics and petrology
  5. Planetary geology
  6. Tectonics and structural geology
  7. Volcanology

Earth surface environment

  1. Palaeontology
  2. Sedimentary geomorphology and erosional processes
  3. Sedimentology and stratigraphy

Atmospheric systems

  1. Atmospheric chemistry
  2. Atmospheric dynamics and meteorology
  3. Planetary atmospheres and space weather

Oceans systems

  1. Biological oceanography
  2. Dynamical/physical oceanography
  3. Marine geoscience
  4. Ocean geochemistry

Terrestrial hydrosphere

  1. Aquatic biogeochemistry
  2. Freshwater systems
  3. Hydrogeology
  4. Hydrological engineering
  5. Hydrology

Cryospheric systems

  1. Glacial geology
  2. Glaciology
  3. Planetary cryospheric systems

Biosphere and ecosystems

  1. Ecology and biodiversity
  2. Carbon and nutrient cycles
  3. Genomics
  4. Soil science

Earth system science

  1. Biogeochemical cycles
  2. Climate science
  3. Geoengineering
  4. Palaeoceanography
  5. Palaeoclimatology

Applied earth and environmental sciences

  1. Air quality management
  2. Biosphere management
  3. Conservation
  4. Ecotoxicology
  5. Engineering geology
  6. Environment and public health
  7. Natural hazards risk and mitigation
  8. Non-renewable natural resources
  9. Pollution
  10. Renewable natural resources
  11. Waste management
  12. Water management

Applied earth and environmental sciences

  1. Earth and environmental science ethics
  2. Earth and environmental social science

Boundaries

The sub-panel expects submissions in this UoA from all areas of Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, as defined above, and expects that the majority of the research activity submitted will have made a direct contribution to the UoA as characterised in the UoA descriptor. However, it recognises and welcomes the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research in this area and expects that submissions may contain outputs that not only make contributions to this UoA and other cognate disciplines, but also to UoAs that extend beyond traditional cognate disciplines. It also acknowledges that there are significant cross-cutting themes that can apply to any of the categories defined above; these include, but are not limited to: theoretical approaches; modelling approaches; molecular biology, genomics and proteomics; innovative measurement and monitoring systems; data science and analysis; and machine learning approaches.

UoA 8: Chemistry

Descriptor

The UoA includes all areas of experimental and theoretical chemistry, the environment and sustainability and chemical biology, where the research is primarily concerned with chemical aspects.

Broad research areas for determining representativeness of submissions

  1. Advanced materials, nanoscience and nanotechnology
  2. Analytical and measurement sciences
  3. Applied and industrial chemistry
  4. Atomic, molecular and chemical spectroscopy
  5. Catalysis
  6. Chemical biology
  7. Data driven, automated and digital chemistry
  8. Energy
  9. Environmental and atmospheric chemistry
  10. Inorganic chemistry
  11. Medicinal chemistry
  12. Organic chemistry
  13. Physical chemistry and chemical physics
  14. Soft matter and polymer chemistry
  15. Sustainability
  16. Theoretical and computational chemistry
  17. Other for the purpose of aggregation

Research specialism to inform allocation of outputs to assessors

  1. AI, machine learning, cheminformatics
  2. Analytical spectroscopy
  3. Archaeological chemistry
  4. Astrochemistry
  5. Atmospheric chemistry
  6. Automated chemistry
  7. Battery chemistry
  8. Biocatalysis
  9. Biochemistry
  10. Bioinorganic chemistry
  11. Biological chemistry
  12. Biophysical chemistry
  13. Chemical education
  14. Chemical engineering interfaces
  15. Chemical metrology and sensors
  16. Chemical reactivity and mechanisms
  17. Computational chemistry
  18. Data-driven and digital chemistry
  19. Dyes and colour chemistry
  20. Electroanalytical and sensor chemistry
  21. Electrochemistry and electrochemical technologies
  22. Environmental chemistry
  23. Environmental engineering interfaces
  24. Fuel cells
  25. Functional materials
  26. Geochemistry
  27. Green chemistry
  28. Heterogeneous catalysis
  29. Homogeneous catalysis
  30. Imaging chemistry
  31. Inorganic coordination chemistry
  32. Instrumentation development
  33. Laser chemistry
  34. Main group chemistry
  35. Mass spectrometry
  36. Materials chemistry
  37. Mechanochemistry
  38. Medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry
  39. Metallurgy
  40. Molecular electronics
  41. Nanochemistry
  42. Nanomaterials
  43. Nanotechnology
  44. Natural product chemistry
  45. Organocatalysis
  46. Organometallic catalysis
  47. Organometallic chemistry
  48. Petrochemistry
  49. Photocatalysis
  50. Photochemistry
  51. Photoelectrochemistry
  52. Physical organic chemistry
  53. Polymer chemistry and plastics
  54. Porous materials
  55. Quantum chemistry
  56. Radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry
  57. Separation science
  58. Soft matter and colloids
  59. Solar energy conversion
  60. Solid-state chemistry
  61. Structural biology
  62. Structural chemistry and crystallography
  63. Supramolecular chemistry
  64. Surface and interface chemistry
  65. Sustainable chemistry
  66. Synthetic biology
  67. Synthetic organic chemistry
  68. Thermochemistry

Boundaries

The sub-panel expects submissions in this UoA from all areas of chemistry, as defined above, and expects that the majority of the research activity submitted will have made a direct contribution to the UoA as characterised in the UoA descriptor. It recognises and welcomes, however, the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research, and expects that submissions may contain work that contributes to this UoA and other disciplines, including those which have boundaries with this UoA, such as UoA 3 (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Widwifery, Nursing and Pharmacy), UoA 5 (Biological Sciences), UoA 7 (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences), UoA 9 (Physics), UoA 12 (Engineering) and other cognate disciplines.

UoA 9: Physics

Descriptor

The UoA includes all areas of physics encompassing, but not limited to, theoretical, computational (including AI and data science), experimental studies (including instrumentation) of: quantum physics; atomic, molecular and optical physics; plasma physics; fusion and energy; particle physics; nuclear physics; surface and interface physics; condensed matter, materials and soft matter physics; biophysics; semiconductors, nanoscale physics, lasers, optoelectronics and photonics; magnetism, superconductivity and quantum fluids; fluid dynamics; statistical mechanics, chaotic and nonlinear systems; astronomy and astrophysics, planetary and atmospheric physics; space physics; cosmology and relativity; medical physics; applied physics and chemical physics.

Broad research areas for determining representativeness of submissions

  1. Quantum physics and technologies
  2. Atomic and molecular physics
  3. Plasma and fusion physics
  4. Particle physics
  5. Nuclear physics
  6. Condensed matter and materials physics
  7. Semiconductor, nanoscale and photonics physics
  8. Magnetism, superconductivity and quantum fluids
  9. Fluids, fluid dynamics, nonlinear and statistical physics
  10. Astronomy and astrophysics
  11. Space physics
  12. Cosmology, relativity and gravitational physics
  13. Biophysics
  14. Medical physics
  15. Chemical physics
  16. Applied physics, engineering physics and instrumentation
  17. Other for the purpose of aggregation

Research specialism to inform allocation of outputs to assessors

  1. Quantum information, simulation and computing
  2. Quantum technologies and measurement
  3. Atomic physics
  4. Molecular physics
  5. Laboratory plasma physics
  6. Space and astrophysical plasmas
  7. Fusion science and reactor physics
  8. Experimental particle physics
  9. Particle theory and phenomenology
  10. Neutrino and astroparticle physics
  11. Nuclear structure and reactions
  12. Nuclear astrophysics
  13. Hadronic physics
  14. Strongly correlated systems
  15. Quantum materials and topological matter
  16. Surface physics
  17. Interface physics and thin films
  18. Soft matter and complex fluids
  19. Polymer physics
  20. Semiconductor physics and devices
  21. Nanoscience and nanomaterials
  22. Lasers and optical systems
  23. Optoelectronics and photonic materials
  24. Magnetism and spin phenomena
  25. Superconductivity
  26. Quantum fluids and ultracold matter
  27. Fluids, fluid dynamics and turbulence
  28. Statistical physics and complex systems
  29. Nonlinear dynamics and chaos
  30. Extra-galactic astrophysics
  31. Stellar and Galactic astrophysics
  32. High-energy and multi-messenger astrophysics
  33. Planetary and atmospheric physics
  34. Exoplanetary physics
  35. Solar physics
  36. Magnetospheric and ionospheric physics
  37. Cosmology and large-scale structure
  38. Gravitational physics and relativity
  39. Molecular, cellular and multi-cellular biophysics
  40. Medical imaging physics
  41. Radiation and therapeutic physics
  42. Molecular spectroscopy and dynamics
  43. Theoretical and computational chemical physics
  44. Applied photonics and sensing
  45. Energy
  46. Detector and sensor instrumentation
  47. Accelerator science and instrumentation
  48. Applied nuclear physics, instrumentation and techniques
  49. Astronomical instrumentation and technology
  50. Engineering physics

Boundaries

The sub-panel expects submissions in this UoA from all areas of physics, as defined above, and expects that the majority of the research activity submitted will have made a direct contribution to the UoA as characterised in the UoA descriptor. It recognises and welcomes, however, the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research, and its pedagogy, and expects that submissions may contain work that contributes to this UoA and other cognate disciplines.

UoA 10: Mathematical Sciences

Descriptor

The UoA includes pure and applied mathematics, statistics and operational research, including the development and application of these areas in AI or the study of biological, physical and social sciences, commerce, engineering, finance, government, health, industry, information science, medicine and elsewhere.

Broad research areas for determining representativeness of submissions

  1. Algebra
  2. Analysis
  3. Combinatorics
  4. Continuum mechanics
  5. Geometry
  6. Mathematical operations research
  7. Mathematical physics
  8. Modelling
  9. Number theory
  10. Numerical analysis
  11. Probability
  12. Statistics
  13. Other for the purpose of aggregation

Research specialism to inform allocation of outputs to assessors

  1. Algebra
  2. Algebraic geometry
  3. Analysis
  4. Applied statistics such as biostatistics, environment, medical and social statistics
  5. Category theory
  6. Combinatorics
  7. Complexity theory
  8. Continuum mechanics and magnetohydrodynamics
  9. Differential equations
  10. Differential geometry
  11. Dynamical systems and ergodic theory
  12. Environmental mathematics
  13. Financial mathematics
  14. Geophysical mathematics
  15. Industrial mathematics
  16. Integrable systems
  17. Inverse problems
  18. Mathematical and statistical software
  19. Mathematical aspects of data science
  20. Mathematical aspects of machine learning
  21. Mathematical aspects of operational research, including optimisation and stochastic modelling
  22. Mathematical biology
  23. Mathematical foundations of AI
  24. Mathematical logic and foundations
  25. Mathematical medicine
  26. Mathematical methods
  27. Mathematical physics
  28. Network theory
  29. Number theory
  30. Numerical analysis and scientific computing
  31. Operator theory and operator algebras
  32. Probability
  33. Quantum information theory
  34. Quantum theory including string theory
  35. Relativity and gravitation
  36. Statistics
  37. Topology

Boundaries

The sub-panel expects submissions in this UoA from all areas of mathematical sciences, as defined above, and expects that the majority of the research activity submitted will have made a direct contribution to the UoA as characterised in the UoA descriptor. It recognises, however, the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research, and welcomes the submission of innovative interdisciplinary research that incorporates mathematical, statistical or operational research content, irrespective of the primary research focus of the medium in which the output is disseminated. Any work in which significant mathematical or statistical research is clear may be considered in this UoA, including experimental, methodological, theoretical or computational investigations related to mathematical or statistical models applied in other subject areas.    

The sub-panel expects to receive some outputs on the history of mathematical sciences where they incorporate insights into mathematics or statistics. It will receive outputs describing purely pedagogic research within higher education and where advice is required from Sub-panel 23 (Education), outputs will be jointly assessed or cross-referred. However, operational research that is focused on business and management should not normally be submitted to this UoA.

UoA 11: Computer Science and Informatics

Descriptor

The UoA includes the study and evaluation of methods for acquiring, storing, processing, communicating and reasoning about information, computation and interactivity in natural and artificial systems. The sub-panel expects submissions in this UoA to include contributions from fields including: Foundations and Principles of Computing; Computing Systems, Networks and Infrastructure; Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; Human-Computer Systems; Security, Privacy and Trust; and Applied Computing and Interdisciplinary Informatics. Each field is characterised by strong theoretical foundations and systematic application of analysis, design, experimentation and evaluation.

Broad research areas for determining representativeness of submissions

  1. Applied Computing and Interdisciplinary Informatics
  2. Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  3. Computing Systems, Networks and Infrastructure
  4. Foundations and Principles of Computing
  5. Human-Computer Systems
  6. Security, Privacy and Trust
  7. Other for the purpose of aggregation

Research specialism to inform allocation of outputs to assessors

Applied Computing and Interdisciplinary Informatics

  1. Applied Computing in Mathematical, Physical Science and Engineering
  2. Applied Computing in Medicine, Health and Life Science
  3. Applied Computing in other areas
  4. Computational Science, Simulations and Modelling
  5. Operations Research

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

  1. Computer Vision
  2. Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
  3. Foundations of Data Science
  4. Generative and Agentic Artificial Intelligence
  5. Information Retrieval and Recommendation Systems
  6. Knowledge Discovery and Data Analytics
  7. Machine Learning Foundations
  8. Natural Language Processing
  9. Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Computing Systems, Networks and Infrastructure

  1. Databases
  2. Distributed and Networked Systems
  3. Hardware and Systems Architecture
  4. High-Performance and Next-Generation Computing
  5. Operating Systems
  6. Quantum Computing and Quantum Information Processing

Foundations and Principles of Computing

  1. Algorithms and Data Structures
  2. Formal Methods and Verification
  3. Non-Standard Models of Computation
  4. Programming Languages and Compilers
  5. Software Engineering
  6. Theory of Computing

Human-Computer Systems

  1. Accessibility, Collaborative and Social Computing
  2. Augmented, Virtual and Extended Reality
  3. Graphics, Multimedia and Games
  4. Human-Computer Interaction Design
  5. Human-Computer Interaction Techniques
  6. Ubiquitous and Affective Computing

Security, Privacy and Trust

  1. Cryptography
  2. Cybersecurity and Systems Security
  3. Privacy-Preserving Technologies
  4. Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence and Systems

Boundaries

The sub-panel expects that the majority of the research activity submitted will have made a direct contribution to the UoA as characterised in the UoA descriptor, either by contributing new methods and knowledge or through innovative applications of state-of-the-art methods to challenging problems in other disciplines. It recognises the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research and welcomes the submission of interdisciplinary outputs that make contributions to other areas as well as computer science and informatics. However, outputs that only use or apply routine computational methods (for example, applied Data Science or applied AI techniques) in other domains should not normally be submitted to this UoA.

UoA 12: Engineering

Descriptor

The UoA includes all areas of: bioengineering and health engineering; chemical and bio-chemical engineering; civil engineering; electrical and electronic engineering; energy and environmental engineering; information and digital engineering; mechanical engineering; manufacturing engineering; materials science and engineering; systems engineering and design; and engineering applications.

Broad research areas for determining representativeness of submissions

  1. Bioengineering and health engineering
  2. Chemical and bio-chemical engineering
  3. Civil engineering
  4. Electrical and electronic engineering
  5. Energy and environmental engineering
  6. Information and digital engineering
  7. Mechanical engineering
  8. Manufacturing engineering
  9. Materials science and engineering
  10. Systems engineering and design
  11. Engineering applications
  12. Other for the purpose of aggregation

Research specialism to inform allocation of outputs to assessors

  1. Acoustics
  2. Aerospace engineering
  3. Architectural engineering
  4. Artificial intelligence
  5. Automotive engineering
  6. Bio-chemical engineering
  7. Bioengineering
  8. Biomaterials
  9. Biomedical engineering
  10. Ceramics
  11. Combustion
  12. Communications and networks
  13. Composites
  14. Construction methods, materials and infrastructure
  15. Control and systems
  16. Defence and security
  17. Design
  18. Digital manufacturing
  19. Electrical power systems
  20. Electrochemical engineering
  21. Electronic devices and systems
  22. Electronic materials
  23. Energy materials
  24. Energy systems and power engineering
  25. Engineering biology
  26. Engineering management
  27. Environmental engineering and sustainability
  28. Fluid mechanics
  29. Geospatial engineering
  30. Healthcare technologies
  31. Human-centred engineering
  32. Information engineering
  33. Instrumentation and measurement
  34. Machines, drives and electromagnetics
  35. Manufacturing technology and systems
  36. Maritime and offshore engineering
  37. Materials engineering
  38. Mechanics and dynamics
  39. Metals
  40. Modelling, simulation and computational methods
  41. Nano and quantum engineering
  42. Nuclear engineering
  43. Optimisation and decision making
  44. Pedagogic research in engineering
  45. Photonics
  46. Polymers
  47. Process engineering
  48. Railway engineering
  49. Robotics and autonomous engineering
  50. Signal and image processing
  51. Structural engineering and geotechnics
  52. Systems engineering
  53. Systems monitoring and diagnostics
  54. Thermodynamics and heat transfer
  55. Transportation engineering
  56. Vibration
  57. Water and wastewater engineering

Boundaries

The sub-panel expects submissions in this UoA from all areas of engineering, as defined above, and expects that the majority of the research activity submitted will have made a direct contribution to the UoA as characterised in the UoA descriptor. It recognises and welcomes, however, the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research, and expects that submissions may contain outputs that not only make contributions to this UoA and other cognate disciplines but also to UoAs that extend beyond traditional cognate disciplines.

The sub-panel recognises the overlapping boundaries in the UoA descriptors, and that aspects of research are naturally interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary or span the boundaries between individual UoAs. The sub-panel welcomes the submission of research that may equally be submitted to other sub-panels. Where judged necessary by the sub-panel, expertise will be augmented by additional assessors, or research will be jointly assessed with, or cross-referred to, other relevant sub-panels.