Launch of German Reproducibility Network: Foster trustworthiness and transparency in scientific research
Kiel/Hamburg, 01 February 2021: Eight key Open Science actors in Germany founded the German Reproducibility Network. This cross-disciplinary consortium is dedicated to promote reproducible and robust research on a national level. The ZBW is one of the founding members.
Today, it seems more important than ever that research results are trustworthy and based on robust research. This includes transparency and openness to enable the reproducibility of research results as a key quality indicator in research, which is also in line with established principles of good scientific practice. With this background, the German Reproducibility Network (GRN) was founded in January 2021. This peer-led cross-disciplinary consortium in Germany aims to increase trustworthiness and transparency of scientific research. Therefore, the network focuses on the following activities:
- Support researchers in educating themselves about open science practices, and founding local open science communities.
- Connecting local or topic-centered Reproducibility Initiatives to a national network, and foster connections between them.
- Advise institutions on how to embed open science practices in their work.
- Represent the open science community toward other stakeholders in the wider scientific landscape.
The GRN is embedded in a growing network of similar initiatives in the UK, Switzerland, Australia, and Slovakia. It is open for further members and offers various ways to participate.
The founding members are the following eight Open Science actors in Germany:
- Berlin University Alliance
- QUEST Center of the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
- German Psychological Society (DGPs)
- Helmholtz AI
- Helmholtz Open Science Office
- LMU Open Science Center
- NOSI (Network of Open Science Initiatives)
- ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics
ZBW director Professor Klaus Tochtermann says: ”The great success of the FAIR principles has created important prerequisites for reproducibility in science. The next logical step is now to anchor the topic of reproducibility beyond research data in science. And for this, GRN serves as a central hub in Germany.“
