A look back at Open Research Week 2023

22 May - 26 May 2023

Colleagues came together to discuss open research practices and to celebrate pioneers in the field.

The flagship event was an in-person conference day, hosted at Keele Hall. External speakers from organisations like the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) and a keynote address from Professor Rachael Gooberman-Hill, the co-chair of the UK Committee on Research Integrity brought together delegates from across Keele and beyond, in a celebration of open research.

Open Research Awards

The event also highlighted case studies and acknowledged existing contributions, with the announcement of the Open Research Award winners, selected by the Research Integrity & Improvement Committee. 

Dr Jim Grange, Academic Lead for Research Integrity & Improvement, said: “These Institutional Open Research Awards are designed to recognise and reward colleagues who have made strong contributions to the principles of Open Research in their work.

"The excellence of the applications submitted by both award recipients was astounding. Both demonstrated how open research can catalyse not only their own research but also have a rippling effect across the wider research community. A massive congratulations to both Balamrit and Melanie on these well-deserved awards.”

Headshot of PGR Open Research Award winner Balamrit Sokhal

"The winner of the PGR award was Balamrit Sokhal from the School of Medicine who is supervised by Professor Mamas Mamas and Professor Christian Mallen. Balamrit has demonstrated excellent engagement with open research throughout his studies—made even more impressive that he is at such an early career stage—both in his own work and by enabling others (including students) to engage with open research."

Dr Jim Grange, Academic Lead for Research Integrity & Improvement

Staff Open Research Award winner, Professor Melanie Holden

"The winner of the Staff award was Professor Melanie Holden from the School of Medicine for a project entitled “Subgrouping and TargetEd Exercise pRogrammes for knee and hip OsteoArthritis (STEER OA): a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis”. The panel were unanimous in their view that the application demonstrated incredibly strong engagement with open research, and that the database and associated toolbox that had been developed by the project was already demonstrating strong impact, both in the work of Professor Holden and in the work of other international researchers."

Dr Jim Grange, Academic Lead for Research Integrity & Improvement