Recommendations for empowering early career researchers to improve research culture and practice

Abstract

Early career researchers (ECRs) are important stakeholders leading efforts to catalyze systemic change in research culture and practice. Here, we summarize the outputs from a virtual unconventional conference (unconference), which brought together 54 invited experts from 20 countries with extensive experience in ECR initiatives designed to improve the culture and practice of science. Together, we drafted 2 sets of recommendations for (1) ECRs directly involved in initiatives or activities to change research culture and practice; and (2) stakeholders who wish to support ECRs in these efforts. Importantly, these points apply to ECRs working to promote change on a systemic level, not only those improving aspects of their own work. In both sets of recommendations, we underline the importance of incentivizing and providing time and resources for systems-level science improvement activities, including ECRs in organizational decision-making processes, and working to dismantle structural barriers to participation for marginalized groups. We further highlight obstacles that ECRs face when working to promote reform, as well as proposed solutions and examples of current best practices. The abstract and recommendations for stakeholders are available in Dutch, German, Greek (abstract only), Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Serbian.

Fig 1. Themes of scientific reform efforts.

Common themes of science reform work include publishing, reproducibility, public involvement and science communication, diversity and global perspectives, ECR training and working conditions, and rewards and incentives. This figure provides a general overview of some themes included in each topic and overlapping areas. It is impossible to display all themes and overlapping areas.

Fig 2. Balancing effort and impact in science reform initiatives.

ECRs who are developing an initiative should consider the amount of effort that each stage will require and the potential impact. Actions that allow others to reuse materials to start their own initiatives can amplify impact by expanding the initiative’s reach. This conceptual figure illustrates the relationship between effort and impact for the ReproducibiliTea journal club initiative [23]. The effort and impact values are subjective. Furthermore, it is difficult to determine which specific actions had the greatest impact. Organizers may implement several new approaches simultaneously. Impacts are often delayed, as awareness of initiatives builds over time. Finally, it is important to note that this diagram was based on a successful initiative. Not all initiatives are successful and effort does not always increase impact. Organizers should prioritize actions that they think are most likely to increase impact, then adapt their strategy based on the results. ECR, early career researcher.