In celebration of International Open Access Week, the GW4 Alliance—comprising four of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, and Exeter—has announced the launch of the 2024/25 Open Research Prize competition.
Spearheaded for 2024/25 by the University of Bath, in partnership with GW4 Library Services and the GW4 Alliance, this year’s Prize will recognise outstanding entries that showcase exemplary open research practices in one of three award categories:
- Widening Reach
- Improving Quality
- Poster Prize
The Prize is open to submissions from all researchers (including postgraduate research students), in all disciplines, across the GW4 Alliance universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter.
Submissions from postgraduate research students (PGRs) and early career researchers (ECRS) are particularly encouraged.
Applications from technical and professional services staff, who conduct or support open research, are also welcomed and encouraged.
Shortlisted entrants will be invited to join an in-person awards ceremony, which will take place during GW4 Open Research Week, on the 2nd April 2025 at the University of Bath.
Last year’s Prize, led by the University of Bristol, received an array of applications from across the institutions and disciplines, with the winning entries showcasing best practice in open access across a range of topics including lameness in sheep; diabetes research; and the influence of artificial intelligence.
Celebrating the launch of this year’s prize, Dr Joanna Jenkinson MBE, GW4 Alliance Director, said: “Open research breaks down barriers, accelerates innovation, and fosters global collaboration across disciplines. GW4 is committed to promoting open research across our institutions, ensuring that research outputs are both accessible and impactful on a wider scale. We are delighted to be working once again with our colleagues from across the Alliance on the Open Research Prize.”
Dr Sophie Collet, Director of Research and Innovation Services at the University of Bath, said: “The University of Bath is proud to lead the next GW4 Open Research Prize, which champions the values of transparency, accessibility, and collaboration in research. By promoting open research practices, we are helping to break down traditional barriers and ensure that cutting-edge discoveries are shared widely, benefiting both the academic community and society as a whole.”
To find out more, or to enter the prize, please visit the GW4 Open Research Prize webpages. The deadline for applications will be 14th February 2025.
GW4 Open Research Week
The GW4 Open Research Prize is part of the annual GW4 Open Research Week, which celebrates best practices in open research.
Co-delivered by all four universities and led by the University of Bath for 2025, next year’s will take place from March 31st to April 4th 2025, with a series of events hosted throughout the week. The theme, "Open Research: Open Culture," will highlight a wide range of practices that promote accessibility, transparency, reproducibility, and visibility in research.
Further details about the event will be announced in the New Year. Stay tuned for updates on the GW4 website, newsletter, and social media channels.
Open research breaks down barriers, accelerates innovation, and fosters global collaboration across disciplines. GW4 is committed to promoting open research across our institutions, ensuring that research outputs are both accessible and impactful on a wider scale. We are delighted to be working once again with our colleagues from across the Alliance on the Open Research Prize.”
