GW4 Alliance

🎉 Congratulations to our GW4 Open Research Week Prize winners - who are leading the way in creating more transparent, accessible, reproducible, and visible research across GW4. To highlight the importance of open research practices in every stage of a research career, this year applicants had the choice of three prize categories. A total of 37 submissions were made across all categories, with 12 finalists shortlisted. The judging panel were very impressed with the high standard of submissions including the overall diversity of open research methods and principles; how these had been embedded; the commitment to community-led initiatives and genuine, equitable collaboration leading to measurable impact; and the interventions used to improve transparency, reproducibility and research quality with clear and credible evidence. General Prize Winner: The OpenFlexure Project Team: William Wadsworth, Richard Bowman, Joe Knapper, Julian Stirling for “Microscopy for all: The OpenFlexure Project” Early Career Researcher Winner: Joost de Vries for “The role of calcifying phytoplankton biodiversity in ocean carbon cycling” Research Enabler Prize Winner: Liz Martin-Silverstone for “FAIR and Open Earth Science at the University of Bristol” Well done to all our winners and finalists - all demonstrating outstanding contributions to open research practices across University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Exeter and other organisations. And a huge thank you to our judging panel, award ceremony Chair and all the organisers. Recordings of all the sessions including the Prize Ceremony will be available on the GW4 YouTube site soon. Find out more about GW4 Open Research Week and Open Research Prize: https://gw4.ac.uk/orw/ #GW4ORW #GW4ORP Image below from Award Ceremony showing GW4 Alliance Director Melanie Knetsch, Award Ceremony Chair Professor Dawn Knight and the two winners who were present at the event, William Wadsworth and Liz Martin-Silverstone.

Today as part of GW4 Open Research Week we have a session on 'Rewarding open research from policy to practice' This session brings together emerging evidence and practical tools to explore how reward and recognition systems can evolve to better value openness. Featuring insights from recent research assessment reforms at a global level, the Open and Responsible Researcher Reward and Recognition project (OR4), and perspectives from institutions, the session will highlight what’s changing, and next steps for the system. Join us to explore how policies can translate into real incentives that support a more open, responsible, and transparent research culture. Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/eD76Zw_s Whether you’re new to open research, already embedding open practices, or simply curious to learn more, GW4 Open Research Week 2026 is open to ALL - offering opportunities to connect, learn and help shape a more open and inclusive research culture. #GW4ORW Alex Rushforth, Banaz Jalil, PhD, Hayley Shaw, Helen Louise Young, Ted Spilsbury, Gareth Cole, Claire Fraser, Lavinia Gambelli

We are halfway through our GW4 Open Research Week and today we are excited to announce the winners of the GW4 Open Research Prize at the Awards Ceremony. GW4 Director Melanie Knetsch will be delivering the welcome address explaining how Open Research is central to our strategic direction and highlighting institutional approaches across the alliance – with each of our universities bringing a distinctive, yet strongly aligned, commitment to Open Research. Join us this lunchtime to hear how the finalists used open practices throughout their research processes to make their research more accessible, transparent and reproducible. There will also be a keynote address covering the results of the 2025 Open Research Programme Survey UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN). Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/enSzpVJX Lavinia Gambelli, Jackie Thompson, Professor Dawn Knight #ORW #GW4ORW #GW4ORP

Today for GW4 Open Research Week we have two fantastic sessions open to all: - The value of being open: improving and expanding practices in the arts, humanities and social sciences, with Miranda L. Barnes, @Jenni Adams, and Stephen Gray. This session will look at how open practices can bring particular benefits to the arts, humanities and social sciences, focusing on how two projects (MORPHSS and The Uncertain Space) are investigating this in different ways. Plus.... - Open practices and methodologies in research design to support reproducibility, with Nick Beazley-Long and Chris Chambers. Sign up to attend online: https://gw4.ac.uk/orw/ University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd, University of Exeter #ORW #GW4ORW

Today marks the start of our GW4 Open Research Week 2026. Join us this lunchtime for the keynote session, delivered by Bregt Saenen and James Morris from Science Europe. Hear the results of a three-year Science Europe consultation with its public research funding and performing member organisations, focused on the intersection of open science and research assessment reform. Through a collaborative process, the project co-developed strategic recommendations on how these agendas can mutually reinforce one another to foster positive research cultures and strengthen evidence-based research and innovation policymaking. Sign up online: https://lnkd.in/e9gtTM6t Take a look at the full programme: https://gw4.ac.uk/orw/

Don't forget to sign up to our GW4 Open Research Week 2026 - taking place next week from 20–24 April. Events are free, online and everyone is welcome to attend (link in comments). Hear from leading voices across GW4, other universities and organisations as they explore how open research practices can drive transparency, reproducibility and wider impact, focussing on policies, practical guidance, and inspiring examples of open research in action. The week features a great selection of workshops and panel discussions, including: - A keynote from Science Europe on the intersection of open science and research assessment reform. - Open practices and methodologies in research design. - Advancing open research in the arts, humanities and social sciences - The HiddenREF movement. - Ways to reward and recognise open research across our institutions Plus our GW4 Director Melanie Knetsch will be celebrating the winners of the GW4 Open Research Prize at the Awards Event on Wednesday. Sign up to this session to hear how the finalists used open practices throughout their research processes to make their research more accessible, transparent and reproducible. There will also be a keynote address covering the results of the 2025 Open Research Programme Survey (UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN). So, whether you’re new to open research, already embedding open practices, or simply curious to learn more, GW4 Open Research Week 2026 is open to ALL - offering opportunities to connect, learn and help shape a more open and inclusive research culture. University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Exeter.

'TRAINING TUESDAYS' I New FUNDING available - APPLY NOW 💰 X-CITED is launching two new funding opportunities: the Knowledge Exchange Placement (KEP) Fund & the Technical Training Fund 🧠Knowledge Exchange Placement (KEP) Fund: This fund of up to £600 can be used by RTPs to engage in knowledge sharing activities with colleagues from other GW4 institutions to develop connections, gain new knowledge and develop technical skills. 🧑🏫Technical Training Fund: This fund of up to £2000 per application could be used by RTPs to obtain training in use of shared, high-value or bespoke equipment or skill development, where the training does not exist within GW4 institutions Both funds are available for Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) working within Engineering & Physical Science (PSE) across Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter Universities. 👉 To find out more, and to apply - visit our website: https://lnkd.in/efbE28qq

🗺️ Help shape our Hydrogen Map for the GW-SHIFT region We’re updating our regional Hydrogen Map to better showcase the breadth and strength of hydrogen activity across GW-SHIFT, and we need your input. This map plays a key role in highlighting our growing hydrogen cluster and supporting future funding opportunities. We’re looking to capture: 🔹 Corporates delivering hydrogen projects 🔹 SMEs operating in the hydrogen sector 🔹 Local council hydrogen initiatives 🔹 University expertise across the region If your organisation is contributing to the hydrogen ecosystem, we want to hear from you. Submit your project details via the form below and be part of the region’s hydrogen story. 👇 https://lnkd.in/e6BqrCQt #HydrogenEconomy #GreenHydrogen #CleanEnergyTransition #NetZeroUK #EnergyInnovation

Latest round up of GW4 news, opportunities and events, including GW4 Open Research Week, regional research and innovation and GW4 Crucible.

GW4 Open Research Week 2026 takes place this month from 20–24 April, with a programme of workshops and panel discussions exploring how open research enhances transparency, collaboration, integrity and impact.  Hear from leading voices across GW4 and other universities and organisations as they share everything from policy to practical insights and inspiring examples of open research in action. Featuring a keynote event by Science Europe, sessions will cover topics including, open science and research assessment reform, research design methodologies, developments in the arts, humanities and social sciences, the Hidden Research Excellence Framework, and rewarding open research. Whether you’re new to open research, already embedding open practices, or simply curious to learn more, GW4 Open Research Week 2026 is open to ALL - offering opportunities to connect, learn and help shape a more open and inclusive research culture.  Speakers include: Bregt Saenen and James Morris from Science Europe, Miranda L. Barnes, Stephen Gray, Nick Beazley-Long, Chris Chambers, Alex Rushforth, Banaz Jalil, PhD, Hayley Shaw, Helen Louise Young, Ted Spilsbury, Gareth Cole, Claire Fraser, Gemma Derrick. University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and University of Exeter.