Open research strengthens the quality, visibility and impact of the work we do at Bath - but putting it into practice isn’t always as simple as it sounds.
In this blog, Dr Kate Button, our UKRN Institutional Lead, talks about why openness matters, what we’ve been doing to make it easier for colleagues across the University, and how your experiences will help shape the next steps. With our latest Open Research Survey about to launch, it’s the perfect moment to take stock, hear from our community, and look ahead to how we can continue building a culture where transparency and good practice are supported and celebrated.
Professor Emma Carmel, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)
It’s time to open up
Openness strengthens research. When our data, methods and decisions are transparent, others can understand, trust and build on our work. But our last Open Research Survey showed that even when researchers value these principles, putting them into practice isn’t always straightforward.
In this short guest blog, I introduce open research, why it matters, and how the University is supporting colleagues to adopt transparent and reproducible practices. And as we prepare to launch our second Open Research Survey this week, I explain why your experiences will help shape how we support open research at Bath.
What is ‘Open Research’ and why does it matter?
Open research is about making research transparent, accessible, verifiable and reproducible - all of which fundamentally improve the integrity and quality of research.
Open research practices include:
- open data
- open methods
- preregistration
- open access publishing
- transparent reporting
These practices support individual researchers and the wider research community. They increase trust in findings, accelerate knowledge exchange, and help reduce waste and duplication.
Open Research at Bath
At the University of Bath, we are committed to improving the integrity and quality of our research. Open research strengthens the quality and visibility of our work and supports a culture where good practice is recognised and valued.
Our membership of the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), alongside our Open Research Action Plan, demonstrates this commitment and connects us to national efforts to improve transparency, rigour and reproducibility. Importantly, open research is one of the six strategic pillars of our Research Culture Action Plan, launched in December 2024.
My role in Open Research
Open research is now firmly embedded in national and international conversations about research quality, integrity and culture. Through the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) - a peer-led consortium dedicated to strengthening research quality - Bath contributes to this wider collective effort. Collaboration is central to this work, including through the GW4 alliance. If you’re already using open research practices, you might consider applying for the 2026 GW4 Open Research Prize, which closes for applications on 20 February.
I recently took on the role of UKRN Institutional Lead, having previously served as Bath’s Local Network Lead. In this capacity, I chair the University’s Open Research Steering Group (ORSG), which brings together colleagues from the Research Culture team, the Library and across the University to shape and deliver our open research strategy. At the grassroots level, the Bath Open Research Group, chaired by doctoral researcher Luca Hargitai, is an active community that develops resources and peer support for researchers at all career stages.
As UKRN Institutional Lead, my focus is on helping to make open, transparent research a natural and supported part of how we work at Bath. That means reducing practical barriers, building capability across career stages, and ensuring that open practices are recognised and valued. Open research is also increasingly prominent in national discussions on research culture and future assessment frameworks such as the REF.
What have we delivered so far?
Since the PVCR’s December 2024 update, we’ve made strong progress:
- a refreshed suite of Open Research webpages, including new case studies on preregistration, open data and registered reports
- a structured Open Research Training Curriculum through the Doctoral College, helping doctoral researchers build confidence in transparent, rigorous research practices
- hosting the 2025 GW4 Open Research Week, bringing together researchers from Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter
- applying a Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY) to all author-accepted manuscripts in January 2025, helping reduce pressure on Open Access funds
If you’re interested in getting more involved, the Bath Open Research Group is an active, researcher-led community that welcomes new members from any discipline or career stage.
So how open are you?
From 12 February, we’ll email a random sample of staff to invite them to take part in a short anonymous survey about their experiences, views and needs relating to open research. We’re using a stratified random sampling approach this year so that colleagues across all faculties and career stages are represented, while keeping the overall burden on staff low.
Staff who are selected to take part and complete the survey will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw by responding to a short set of additional insight questions.
If you’re not sampled but would still like to share your perspective, I would welcome hearing from you directly. Please contact me at kb658@bath.ac.uk
Let’s open up
Your insight will play an important part in shaping how we support open and transparent research at Bath.
I hope you will consider taking part in the survey and sharing your experience with us.
Dr Kate Button
Respond