Recommendations for empowering early career researchers to improve research culture and practice
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Brianne A Kent Constance Holman Emmanuella Amoako Alberto Antonietti James M Azam Hanne Ballhausen Yaw Bediako Anat M Belasen Clarissa FD Carneiro Yen-Chung Chen Ewoud B Compeer Chelsea AC Connor Sophia Crüwell Humberto Debat Emma Dorris Hedyeh Ebrahimi Jeffrey C Erlich Florencia Fernández-Chiappe Felix Fischer Małgorzata Anna Gazda Toivo Glatz Peter Grabitz Verena Heise David G Kent Hung Lo Gary McDowell Devang Mehta Wolf-Julian Neumann Kleber Neves Mark Patterson Naomi C Penfold Sophie K Piper Iratxe Puebla Peter K Quashie Carolina Paz Quezada Julia L Riley Jessica L Rohmann Shyam Saladi Benjamin Schwessinger Bob Siegerink Paulina Stehlik Alexandra Tzilivaki Kate DL Umbers Aalok Varma Kaivalya Walavalkar Charlotte M de Winde Cecilia Zaza Tracey L Weissgerber Toggle all authors (48)
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.
Journal details
Journal PLOS Biology
Volume 20
Issue number 7
Pages e3001680
Available online
Publication date
Full text links
Publisher website (DOI) 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001680
Europe PubMed Central 35797414
Pubmed 35797414