Category: Openness and transparency

By Lavinia Gambelli

Lavinia is the Open Research Community Manager at the University of Bristol, supporting trainers at UKRN Open Research workshops. She has ten years of research experience in microbiology across various countries.

 

 

 

In the summer of 2024, the University of Bristol introduced an updated suite of open research policies designed to make open research practices more accessible and actionable. These policies aim to provide a clear, practical guide for researchers and research enablers, while also emphasising the University’s role in supporting the adoption of these practices. Key to this support is the commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure, funding, and training to embed open research skills into the professional development of staff and students, ensuring these practices become an integral part of academic life.

In March 2024, my position as Open Research Community Manager was created to help share these practices and policies through building a community of Open Research trainers. Being part of the Research Support Team within Library Services and serving on the Open Research Working Group, I have a unique vantage point. I’m involved in strategic conversations shaping open research and research culture at the University, while also staying connected to the grassroots efforts led by our trainers. This dual perspective highlights the importance of aligning top-down institutional strategies with the on-the-ground realities faced by researchers and trainers alike.

UKRN Open Research Programme

As the Open Research Community Manager, one of my key responsibilities is to recruit staff for open research workshops and support them throughout the process, from their initial training to the delivery of their own sessions. As part of the Open Research Programme, an initiative led by the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), we offer training on a variety of open research topics.

This programme follows a train-the-trainer model: staff who attend a UKRN workshop become open research trainers themselves, enabling them to deliver similar workshops at the University. This approach not only amplifies skill-sharing but also fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous learning. Upcoming workshops delivered by our open research trainers are shared on the Open Research Training SharePoint site and on the dedicated Develop page.

Once they have attended one or more UKRN workshops, trainers join the University’s Open Research Trainers group. This network offers ongoing peer support, particularly during the development and delivery of their workshops. Trainers and all University’s staff and students have access to resources such as slides and materials developed by previous trainers (accessible through the Open Research Training SharePoint site), fostering a sense of collaboration and continuity.

Now in its third iteration, the training programme has been met with interest and engagement from across the University community. By integrating open research practices into daily work, participants not only enhance their professional workflows but also unlock valuable opportunities for career development. Trainers can improve their training skills, gain recognition for their contributions to the development of colleagues, and bolster their promotion applications with tangible evidence of their impact on research culture.

Carlos Ayala who attended the UKRN workshop titled “Data Management for Reproducibility”, said:

“[The training is] very interesting and valuable for research projects in terms of implementation, impact and dissemination”

“This workshop has supported my role as Data Manager within the research project I am currently coordinating.”

Become an Open Research Trainer

Since the first series of workshops in spring 2024, 25 staff members have joined the Trainers group, delivering six sessions across the University so far. If you’re keen to join this training but missed the latest recruitment round, don’t worry! We’ll soon be seeking new trainers for another series of workshops this summer. Be sure to keep an eye on the SharePoint site for the latest announcements and updates, or contact me if you’d like to receive an email when the registrations open – we’d love to have you on board!

Other opportunities for you to get involved

The UKRN open research workshops are just one part of the open research training opportunities available to you at Bristol. A variety of sessions – independent of the train-the-trainer model – are offered throughout the year by professional services teams (such as the Library, People Development, and the Division of Research, Enterprise and Innovation) and academic departments (including the Bristol Medical School and the Jean Golding Institute). Whether you’re a beginner or looking to deepen your expertise, there’s plenty to explore to expand your knowledge of open research.

To further strengthen this growing community of open research practitioners, we hosted our first in-person lunch with the inaugural cohort of open research trainers in autumn 2024. This was an opportunity to exchange ideas, reflect on experiences, and build connections within the group. As the trainers’ network expands, there is significant overlap with the Bristol Reproducibility Network – the local network of UKRN – which shares a similar ethos of fostering open and transparent research.

Back in February, we took part in the first-ever “Open Research Community Event”, bringing together members from both groups. It was a fantastic turnout, sparking plenty of insightful conversations. One of the highlights was the session in which our guest speakers shared real-life examples of how embracing open research practices has boosted their careers. We also explored ways to strengthen open research at Bristol, gathering valuable feedback and fresh ideas. Have a look at Richard’s event highlights if you’d like to read more about it.

As we look to the future, our focus remains on expanding the open research community, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that open research practices are accessible and beneficial to all. By building these connections and investing in skills development, we’re not just promoting open research—we’re creating a culture where it can truly thrive. What role will you play in advancing open research at the University? With so many training and collaboration opportunities available, now is the perfect time to get involved and help us make a difference.

By Marcus Munafò

Marcus is Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research Culture at the University of Bristol. He leads on research culture activity across the university, providing direction and vision, working across the institutional landscape, and identifying key challenges and opportunities. He is also institutional lead for the UK Reproducibility Network.

 

For the last two years we have asked colleagues to provide us with suggestions on how we can improve research culture, through a “dropbox” – an online form where any comment, large or small, can be submitted (anonymously, if preferred). Since our internal review of research bureaucracy, we have also had a second dropbox focused on issues of research bureaucracy. These have fundamentally been an exercise in listening, and in providing better connectivity between different parts of our institution.

The comments we have received have highlighted challenges and frustrations related to research support, university bureaucracy, and resource allocation. The issues raised include practical challenges (research support staffing, HR processes, research infrastructure) as well as cultural challenges (leadership, recognition of technical staff). Of course, the nature of the dropboxes means that we are more likely to receive negative comments than positive ones. But this is important. We cannot improve if we shy away from these challenges.

One difficulty is that, understandably, those who submit comments want to know what is being done to address the issues they have raised. Where a name was provided, we have tried to respond – in many cases connecting the person with someone able to discuss the issue they raised (and perhaps help solve it, although that isn’t always possible). But we do read all the comments. They are discussed at Research Culture Committee and, where appropriate, picked up by the appropriate person and explored further.

Change can be slow, but having a better understanding of the reality on the ground, and the challenges being faced, ultimately helps foster better situational awareness and a culture of continual improvement. We are keen to maintain this. However, in order to simplify the process we have now reverted to a single suggestions dropbox. The hope is that we will continue to receive concerns and complaints but also, where possible, potential solutions. Often those directly affected by an issue are best placed to suggest a solution.

Our culture programme (and my role) is approaching the end of its third year. I think we have made progress – we have supported a range of exciting projects, large and small, and launched our vision for 2030, together with a strategic plan for achieving this. But I have always believed that our research culture is, fundamentally, a reflection of ourselves. It is not something imposed on us, but created by us. That includes being able to offer (and hear) constructive challenge. Please keep the comments coming! Get in touch.