The practices of open research – and open science – ensure the methods, data and findings of scholarly work remain transparent, accessible and reusable to all, helping to fuel further discovery. But while the principles of open research are admirable, they are not always simple and easy to commit to in practice. Competition, ambition, intellectual property and commercial and policy interests can all work against open research. For open research to flourish, a culture must be built in which it is encouraged and brings benefits for individual researchers and the wider research community.
The UK’s Research Excellence Framework 2029 aims to support collaborative, inclusive research cultures, reflected in the 20 per cent weighting now given to Strategy, People and Research Environment. This places a culture in which researchers can share ideas and methods at the core of what research excellence means.
This collection of resources offers advice on building a culture where collaboration and transparency are ingrained; how early career researchers can adopt open research practices in their work; why university librarians are key to the process; how sharing data can transform innovation, and instilling open research ideas in students.
The right conditions for accessible, transparent and reproducible research
Open research practices such as sharing data, methods and software lead to more scrutiny, so it’s crucial that asking questions, admitting uncertainty and allowing for correction are part of the culture researchers are working in, as Etienne Roesch writes below. Here’s how to build a supportive and inclusive workplace in which such scrutiny is welcomed and used to better future work.
Eight ways universities can foster an open research culture now: Make open research routine by creating a culture that welcomes questions and acknowledges uncertainty, writes the University of Reading’s Etienne Roesch. Here’s how.
Five ways to start leading research culture change: If you’re concerned that research culture is valuing output over well-being, or prioritising prestige over passion, these tips from Annette Bramley and Candy Row of Newcastle University’s N8 Partnership could help you move towards more supportive and collaborative labs and departments.
How can we embed inclusion in our research culture for postgraduate researchers? Small, systemic changes can help universities make their research community more welcoming and collaborative. Here, the University of Southampton’s Maisha Islam looks at four actions to consider – from PGR surveys to widening access.
How to publish responsible reproducible research: Scientific publishing includes not just the manuscript but also data, computer code and lab protocols. Here, the University of Luxembourg’s Laurent Heirendt shares practical advice that your research institute can follow to publish research results that are reproducible.
Interdisciplinary research cultures are inclusive, not competitive: Research that crosses disciplines strengthens networks, diversifies expertise and moves thinking beyond inherited boundaries, but effective interdisciplinarity takes time, curiosity and willingness to tackle cultural and structural obstacles. Valentina Cardo, Claire Clarkin and Ingrid Slade of the University of Southampton offer advice.
Getting started with more transparent research practices
As an early career researcher, it can feel daunting to put your data and methods out there – especially given the extra administrative burden it generates. But Campus authors argue that implementing such habits early can pay dividends as an academic career progresses. “You start to create the kind of professional security and reputation that many people assume will only come with tenure,” writes Jesse Xiao of the Education University of Hong Kong. Find out how.
Open research won’t slow your career down – it’s the smartest way to build it: Is open research a virtue that early career researchers can’t afford? Jesse Xiao outlines how to make open practices work for you from your very first project – without adding hours to your week.
A beginner’s guide to open science: Open science may seem impenetrable for early career researchers. The University of Groningen’s Sarahanne Field explains what it is and how to get started.
Open research by principle, not by checklist: Think of open research as an overarching commitment to transparency, running through every stage of the process, rather than options to be ticked off. Alice Howarth of the University of Sheffield shows how.
A simple research laboratory protocol to yield better scientists: Lack of clear expectations among researchers who share a laboratory can waste time, erode trust and impede scientific progress. A universal agreement can make communication, collaboration and mutual respect a deliberate part of lab culture, write Idriss Njike and Neil Garg of UCLA.
The role of libraries in supporting open research
Librarians can play a crucial role in advancing open research practices. They provide practical advice for researchers, they underpin much open access publishing and they can help scholarly work reach academics around the world. These resources explain how researchers can tap into librarians’ expertise but also how librarians can provide support for open research work.
Why libraries should organise open research support around researchers, not services: Librarians could be key in helping academics navigate the open research life cycle. Assemgul Temirkhanova, Yelizaveta Kamilova, Lazzat Arystanov and Ainash Yeleussizov of Nazarbayev University explain how.
Harness the power of your university librarian in the age of information chaos: Find out how to tap the mine of knowledge your university library has, for trustworthy research sources, data expertise and information literacy advice, suggests Ben Meunier of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
As university librarians, we should embrace open research: Open access represents a new opportunity, and librarians are ideally placed to implement it. Nazarbayev University’s library team, Jerald Cavanagh, Darya Zvonareva, Monika Bukowska, April Manabat and Yelizaveta Kamilova, offer their advice.
Three ways libraries are championing the open access movement: Scholars and researchers should take advantage of libraries’ support of and expertise around open access publishing. Asking a librarian for help could protect your work and save you money, argues Karen Glover of Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities.
Why publish open access?
Open access publishing makes research work available and reusable, without restrictions and free of charge. It is thus a key pillar of open research, although it is not without its controversies and has been subject to exploitation by unscrupulous pay-to-publish journals. Here, you’ll find a guide to diamond open access publishing, learn how to tap into institutional open access publishing, and read why a collaborative attitude to scientific writing can benefit everyone.
Diamond open access publishing: what it is and how to do it: For researchers interested in publishing their work with no fees for authors or readers, diamond open access publishing could be the answer. Find a guide to the basics from the University of Edinburgh’s Rebecca Wojturska.
Six reasons why open institutional publishing matters: A new wave of institutional publishers is changing the way we think about academic publishing. The London School of Economics and Political Science’s Philippa Grand and the University of Southampton’s Suzanne Tatham outline why they’re worth watching.
Democratising research through open access journals: The rise of open access publishing has democratised knowledge dissemination, allowing researchers to share their findings with a global audience. Here, Virginia Tech’s Corinne Guimont offers insights on running OA journals at a higher education institution.
When open data meets publish-or-perish: At every stage of the research process, critical thinking acts as a compass – it urges caution against overconfident claims and reminds us that the goal is understanding, not mere output, writes Timo Lorenz of MSB Medical School Berlin.
Science isn’t a solo sport – let’s write accordingly: Generosity in authorship, sharing imperfect drafts and writing daily are academic habits that make research clearer, fairer and more impactful. Audrey Ruple of Virginia Tech suggests ways to embed them.
Put people at the heart of your research culture
Create a more inclusive culture by considering the humans behind the work. What do individual researchers need to thrive in their working and personal lives? Discover ways to support academics with caring responsibilities and how a more supportive assessment and reward system can transform how academics collaborate.
Stop excluding carers! Eight ways to create an inclusive research culture: Low-cost, practical fixes can build a ‘care aware’ research culture and reduce the mental health strain of combining care and scholarship. Mingzhi Li, Cagla Karatepe, Yanyan Li and Xinran Gao from the University of Warwick outline them here.
To improve research culture, we must change the way we measure performance: Jo Cresswell of Dr Joan Cresswell Coaching explains how universities can support more collaborative cultures by changing the way academics are reviewed, assessed and rewarded.
Embed open research skills in students
To build a future in which open research practices are embraced by the next generation of academics means integrating the key principles into lectures and lab sessions today. Find out how to bring open research into the classroom.
Five ways to integrate open research into teaching: Open research shapes how psychological science is conducted yet it is often absent from the way psychology is taught. Here are five practical ways to integrate open research into the curriculum from Aston University’s Charlotte Pennington.
Bring open science into the classroom: To truly change science, the next generation of researchers not only need to understand open science practices but also the values behind them. The University of Leeds’ Madeleine Pownall outlines three ways to introduce them to students.
Research culture begins with curiosity in the classroom: Research culture starts in the classroom, where enquiry becomes a habit and curiosity drives learning. Birmingham City University’s Kashan Pirzada offers guidance on small, everyday teaching practices to cultivate it.
Sharing data for a better world
Open educational resources and data sharing can make a huge difference to the work of others. Here, Campus contributors share how they made their work available to the research community.
Making educational content open access can save lives: By making training resources for surgical professions available on an open access platform, RCSI and its partners are helping to address a huge number of preventable deaths each year. Eric O’Flynn and Ines Perić explain how other institutions can do so too.
Sharing qualitative research through open access: Traditional open access repositories are designed for sharing quantitative data. But what about qualitative data – non-numeric information and concepts such as case studies or interview transcripts? That’s where the Qualitative Data Repository comes in, writes Nathaniel D. Porter of Virginia Tech.
Broaden your research impact with open educational resources: Open educational resources help communicate research outcomes and contribute to shared knowledge. Read about examples and guidance on how to create them from Lorna Campbell and Stephanie Farley from the University of Edinburgh.
Thank you to all Campus contributors who shared their expertise in this guide.
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