Open Research Conference

We are pleased to announce The University of Manchester's Open Research Conference 2025, taking place on Monday, 9th and Tuesday, 10th June 2025 at Alliance Manchester Business School.

• To register, please visit the Conference sign up page.
• Open Research award: nomination deadline Wednesday, 30 April 2025

The conference is a collaborative event led by the Office for Open Research (supported by the Research Lifecycle Programme), the School of Engineering Open Research Lead, the UK Reproducibility Network, and the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute.

The event will showcase the latest innovations and practices in Open Research, bringing together researchers, postgraduate researchers (PGRs), and research support professionals across disciplines to explore bold ideas and practical solutions for reshaping how we conduct and share research.

Please note: The Conference is open to attendees from all institutions.

Keynote Speakers

Giovanna Lima​: Programme Manager, Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)

Stephen Curry: Director of Strategy, Research on Research Institute (RoRI)

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact the team at openresearch@manchester.ac.uk 

Open Research award

The University of Manchester is pleased to announce our second Open Research Award 2025, recognising individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions to the University's Open Research culture over the past year.

The award ceremony will take place at the Open Research Conference evening reception on Monday, 9 June 2025.

• Deadline for nominations: Wednesday, 30 April 2025.

Dr Stuart Wright, a Research Fellow in Health Economics at the University, was last year's Open Research Award winner for his contribution to the MANC-RISK-SCREEN team project, which focused on the open and transparent validation of a breast cancer screening model.

Who is eligible?

• Academic, Technical and Professional Services staff
• PGRs
• Individuals and research teams

How do I nominate?

Nominations are invited from all members of University staff and PGRs.

Self-nominations and team nominations are also accepted.

Nomination Process

All nominations must be submitted on the Open Research Award Nomination Form 2025 by Wednesday, 30 April, 2025.

Recognition and Fellowship

The award winner will:

• Receive a commemorative trophy.

The award winner and two highly commended nominees will: 

• Be recognised at the Open Research Conference awards ceremony.
• Gain the title of Honorary Fellow of the Office for Open Research.
• Be encouraged to act as Open Research ambassadors within the University and beyond.
• Join the network of Open Research Fellowship alumni.
• Be invited to contribute guest articles to the Open Research Digest, a monthly newsletter featuring commentary on open research developments and updates from the Office for Open Research.

Nominations will be reviewed by a selection panel comprising members of the University's Open Research Strategy Group and the Research Culture Working Group. 

Evidence  

Nominees must demonstrate their involvement in Open Research projects undertaken primarily at The University of Manchester since January 2024. Contributions to research outputs, training, infrastructure, and research culture will be considered equally. 

Nominees must submit a case study outlining how they have employed open research practices in a research context or contributed to shaping the environment or infrastructure for Open Research at the University. Submissions may highlight training, tools, or research projects with openness as a core focus.  

Selection Criteria  

Submissions will be assessed against these criteria, as applicable. 

• Championing Open Research: has the nominee actively promoted Open Research principles or methodologies, or created a culture conducive to Open Research? For example, through an Open Research club, teaching/training initiatives, or community engagement activities. 

• Applying Open Research practices, such as: 

• Open and FAIR data practices (has primary data been deposited in a repository and made openly available and FAIR, where possible?). 

• Open access publishing (have research outputs been published open access?). 

• Transparency in contributions: (have team roles been described using, for example, the CRediT Contributor Roles Taxonomy?). 

• Open software and methods (have the software and code used and created in the research process been made as open as possible?). 

• Alignment with the University’s Position Statement on Open Research 

 Award Process  

The Open Research Award will be presented at the Open Research Conference evening reception on Monday, 9 June 2025. Highly commended nominees will also be invited to attend the ceremony.  

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Find out more about our programme of strategic projects to make the University's research more transparent