Two UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) research projects have reached significant milestones. The first interviews for STAR (Sustainable and TrAnsparent open Research data) and METEOR (METa-research for the Enhancement Of Research culture) have been completed. Setting us up for the coming months where the team will continue to interview a range of staff at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

The STAR project focuses on sustainable open research data practices and aims to provide resources and guidance for staff around this. Meanwhile, the METEOR project is investigating the use of meta-research in decision-making and aims to improve its use in relation to research culture at HEIs in England.

By conducting the first interviews, we have gathered valuable initial insights from researchers, HEI leaders and professional services staff. Dr Lorna Duncan, project lead of the STAR and METEOR projects, is enthusiastic about the progress made, “The completion of the initial interviews marks an important milestone for the STAR and METEOR projects. We are encouraged by the engagement of institutions and researchers from a wide range of UK HEIs and we look forward to gaining further perspectives as we continue with this data collection over the coming months.”

The UKRN continues to work on initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of transparency, rigor, and reproducibility in research, with the STAR and METEOR projects playing key roles in this. As these projects progress, we will engage with diverse institutions across the UK and hope to deepen our understanding of open data and research culture at UK HEIs.

For more information, you can contact the project team at ukrn-meteor-star@bristol.ac.uk.