About this Event
Research support professionals—including librarians, research managers, and open research specialists—work at the intersection of policy, practice, and research culture. Their roles are increasingly shaped by policies developed by universities, funders, and governments, requiring them to interpret policy intent, support compliance, and help researchers navigate changing expectations. This one-day workshop explores how research support professionals are influenced by research-related policies and how they can work constructively within complex policy environments.
The morning will focus on the UK policy context, starting with a discussion of institutional and funder research data policies, followed by a practical Rights Retention workshop, examining how universities and other institutions have succeeded in putting these policies in place.
In the afternoon, participants will explore developments around Plan S and its evolution, considering what these changes mean for research support roles in practice. The day concludes with an exciting panel on the future of open scholarship policies featuring speakers from Wellcome, The Gates Foundation and Aligning Science Against Parkinsons.
The workshop is designed to support shared learning and open discussion, helping participants build confidence in working with policy and strengthening the role of research support professionals in shaping effective research practices.
- 09:30-10:00 Registration
- 10:00-11:00 Research perspectives on data sharing and reproducibility expectations featuring Paul Richards, Open Research Lead at UKRI.
This session will explore how different academic stakeholders are adapting to the changing landscape related to data sharing and reproducibility expectations.
The session will begin with a research institution viewpoint, with a talk by Gareth Knight (Research Data Manager at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) on the diverse expectations that have influenced development of their institutional Research Data Management (RDM) Policy.
This will be followed by the researcher perspective, where Patrick Lewis (Professor of Neuroscience at the Royal Veterinary College) will discuss his experiences of complying with the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Open Science Policy.
Finally, we will hear from Paul Richards (Open Research Lead at UKRI) about the implications of the forthcoming UKRI Research Data Policy for open research. - 11:00-11:30 Coffee Break
- 11:30 - 12:30 Rights Retention workshop facilitated by Sarah Molloy, QMUL.
This workshop will provide a space for participants to reflect on their institutional policies around rights retention and green open access. What stage in the process are different organisations? Is what they have in place working? If not, why not? Where do we go from here? - 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch (provided)
- 13.30 - 14.45 New Plan S and its implications workshop facilitated by Katie Fraser, University of Loughborough.
This workshop will explore developments around Plan S and its evolution, considering what these changes mean for research support roles in practice. - 14.45 - 15:00 Coffee
- 15:00-16:00 Funder perspectives panel*
The panel will reflect on how evolving funder requirements are shaping scholarship activities in practice. It offers participants a valuable opportunity to hear directly from major funders about the future of open scholarship policies and strengthening open research culture.
Panel features: Ashley Farley (Gates), Aki MacFarlane (Wellcome), Randy Schekman (Howard Hughes Medical Institute/Advisory Board at ASAP).
*Due to high levels of demand, there is an opportunity to join the final panel session online if you have registered for the online session via Eventbrite and received the platform link.
Accessibility Information
The seminar room is located up a small flight of seven stairs. A small wheelchair lift is available for those who may need it. If you would like to use the lift or have any other accessibility requirements, please let us know during the registration process or contact us in advance so that we can support you.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
