Open in Practice 2019: Opportunities and Challenges

Location: Van Emden Lecture Theatre, Edith Morley Building, Whiteknights Campus [Find on map]

Time and date: 09:00-17:00, Thursday 4th April 2019

Twitter: #UoRopen

Contact us: r.m.darby@reading.ac.uk / 0118 378 6161

View the conference programme

View slides and posters here

Open in Practice 2019: Opportunities and Challenges is a full-day multidisciplinary conference on the theme of Open Research for academics, research students, research managers and support staff at the University of Reading.

Topics to be discussed include: how universities can support Open Research; University initiatives in Open Research; scientific publication and peer review for the 21st century; increasing access to research in the Humanities; and future directions for Open Research.

The programme will feature:

  • keynotes from Dr Danny Kingsley, Deputy Director, Scholarly Communication & Research Services, Cambridge University Library; and Professor Stephen Curry, Professor of Structural Biology, Imperial College London – find out more;
  • presentations from University academics who are implementing open practices in their work;
  • lightning talks from entrants in the University’s inaugural Open Research Award competition;
  • discussion on an Open Research plan for the University, led by Parveen Yaqoob, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation).

Breaks and lunch will provide opportunities for networking and exchange of ideas.

Overview

Is Open Research better research? Can open methods create new research possibilities? What does being open mean in practice, day-to-day? How do you learn what to do, and find the right methods and tools for the job? What is the University doing – and what should it be doing ­­– to help you?

The academic world is changing: Open Research requirements are are receiving greater emphasis in the policies of research funders, research organisations, publishers, and within research communities. New technologies are opening up new research frontiers, and disrupting print-era paradigms of scholarly communication.

More and more people recognise the limitations in current systems of scholarly communication: most of the scholarly record hidden behind paywalls; valuable and costly data, software and other outputs inaccessible and unusable; large amounts of empirical research incapable of being reproduced; inefficient publication and peer review processes slowing the rate of progress and suppressing results.

Open Research offers solutions that make research more accessible, more transparent, more efficient and, ultimately, more beneficial to more people. Its principles are relevant to all researchers, but their application may differ according to discipline and research context. There can be different ways and degrees of being open, and it may not be straightforward to select and use the best methods or tools for the job. Making open choices isn’t always easy. This conference will explore both the opportunities and the practical challenges presented to researchers and the University by Open Research.

Booking and registration

Anyone wishing to attend the conference must book a place. Conference booking will open in February.

University staff and registered PhD students will be eligible to attend. We regret that this conference is for members of the University only. Numbers will be limited to 100 people, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Registration on the day will take place in the first floor foyer of the Edith Morley Building, on the University of Reading Whiteknights campus. [Find on map]

Conference team