CaltechAUTHORS
Published July 7, 2022 | Version public
Journal Article Metadata-only

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

Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Simon Fraser University
  • 2. ROR icon Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
  • 3. ROR icon University of Cape Coast
  • 4. ROR icon Politecnico di Milano
  • 5. ROR icon Stellenbosch University
  • 6. ROR icon Charité - University Medicine Berlin
  • 7. ROR icon University of Ghana
  • 8. ROR icon Cornell University
  • 9. ROR icon Society for Conservation Biology
  • 10. ROR icon Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
  • 11. ROR icon New York University
  • 12. ROR icon University of Oxford
  • 13. ROR icon Clemson University
  • 14. ROR icon National Agricultural Technology Institute
  • 15. ROR icon University College Dublin
  • 16. ROR icon Tehran University of Medical Sciences
  • 17. ROR icon New York University Shanghai
  • 18. ROR icon University College London
  • 19. ROR icon National Scientific and Technical Research Council
  • 20. ROR icon Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
  • 21. ROR icon Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure
  • 22. ROR icon Institute for Advanced Study
  • 23. ROR icon University of York
  • 24. ROR icon Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin
  • 25. ROR icon University of Alberta
  • 26. ROR icon Centre for Life
  • 27. ROR icon The Francis Crick Institute
  • 28. ROR icon Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception
  • 29. ROR icon Mount Allison University
  • 30. ROR icon California Institute of Technology
  • 31. ROR icon Australian National University
  • 32. ROR icon Leiden University Medical Center
  • 33. ROR icon Bond University
  • 34. ROR icon Gold Coast Hospital
  • 35. ROR icon Western Sydney University
  • 36. ROR icon National Centre for Biological Sciences

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.

Additional Information

CH and TLW were funded via the SPOKES Subproject of the Wellcome Trust Translational Partnership at Charité and Berlin Institutes of Health (218358/Z/19/Z, https://wellcome.org). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or the preparation of the manuscript.

Additional details

Identifiers

PMCID
PMC9295962
Eprint ID
117221
Resolver ID
CaltechAUTHORS:20221003-756400000.33

Funding

Wellcome Trust
218358/Z/19/Z

Dates

Created
2022-10-12
Created from EPrint's datestamp field
Updated
2022-10-12
Created from EPrint's last_modified field