The UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) held its 2025 Annual Meeting on Friday 21st March. Members came together to discuss the sustainability of UKRN and the growing importance of open research.
A major highlight of the event was the celebration of the Dorothy Bishop Prize, awarded to three outstanding early career researchers for their contributions to improving research culture and promoting reproducibility.
Dorothy Bishop Prize Winners
This year’s recipients of the Dorothy Bishop Prize were Michael Biddle, Annayah Prosser, and Lewis Jones. Michael, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Leicester, was recognized for his work on improving the reproducibility of biomedical research. Annayah, Assistant Professor at the University of Bath, was honoured for her efforts to integrate qualitative methods into open research practices. Lewis, an Independent Research Fellow at University College London, was awarded for his work in palaeobiology and founding Palaeoverse, an organization dedicated to open research practices in his field.
Key Discussions and Future Plans
The meeting also featured updates on UKRN’s growth and strategy. Marcus Munafo, Chair of UKRN’s Supervisory Board, reviewed the organization’s origins and the challenges of maintaining sustainability amid financial pressure. He emphasized the importance of articulating UKRN’s value to institutions to secure future funding. The organization aims to balance grassroots energy with formal sector engagement and aims for long-term financial stability.
Member Engagement and Sustainability
In a session led by Neil Jacobs, members discussed UKRN’s value proposition, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across institutions, as well as for stakeholders gaining access to institutions they may not otherwise reach. UKRN acts as a bridge between sectors, promoting open research, EDI, and international collaboration. Local and Institutional Leads provided feedback on how UKRN’s role in promoting research rigour and transparency has positively impacted their work. The discussions highlighted the need for greater institutional support and clearer communication about the benefits of membership.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Another focus of the meeting was the growth of UKRN’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Members from various disciplines, including meta-research, computational reproducibility, and arts research, came together to discuss shared challenges and opportunities for collaboration. SIGs offer a platform for members to collaborate on specific topics, share resources, and push for positive change in research practices across fields.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, UKRN’s leadership expressed enthusiasm for expanding its membership and deepening engagement across the research landscape. The meeting closed with a strong call for increased cross-sector collaboration to ensure that research rigour and transparency remain central priorities, even in the face of financial pressures and institutional challenges.
The 2025 Annual Meeting underscored UKRN’s vital role in shaping the future of open research, and the Dorothy Bishop Prize winners were celebrated for their inspiring contributions to this ongoing effort.