UKRI Open Access Policy for long-form publications – August 2024 update

The UKRI open access policy for long-form publications has been in effect since 1st January 2024 (see our previous post for further details). Our dedicated UKRI Policy for long-form publications page contains a summary of the policy and how the Library Research Services (LRS) team can support with publishing open access.

Since the launch of this addition of the open access policy, LRS have been on hand to answer queries about publishing monographs, edited collections and chapters open access, in particular relating to UKRI funded works, advising on publishing routes and how to comply with policy, where appropriate.

Throughout the first half of the 2024, we have visited three schools, hosted five drop-in support sessions, and presented an in-depth webinar to share the UKRI policy and the support we offer. We will continue to share details of our services in future workshops and presentations, and we are always available for 1-2-1 sessions for anyone who would like to know further details.

Following the policy update, we have received numerous queries about publishing books open access, from across all the faculties. They have covered a range of book types and publishers, including Bloomsbury, Boydell and Brewer, Bristol University Press, IWA Publishing, Manchester University Press, and Routledge. Where appropriate, we have advised on the different open access options available, such as publishing the final output open access or self-archiving the accepted manuscript.

Of the six applications received that acknowledge UKRI funding, are within the scope of the policy, and require funding to cover a book processing charge, all have been awarded funding from UKRI to cover the open access publishing costs. The funding is reserved until the books are published, at which time UKRI release the funds and complete the process.  

We expect the first of the UKRI funded outputs to be published by September 2024, details of which will follow once available.

If you have any questions or concerns about the policy, and how this might affect any current or future publications, please contact openaccess@ncl.ac.uk

Research Culture Workshop: Towards Open Research

As part of Newcastle University’s Research Strategy, we are evolving our research culture in collaboration with the whole research community. We invite the research community across career stages, job families, and disciplines, to join this first Skills Academy Research Culture workshop: Towards Open Research.

The workshop will invite participants to consider open research practices and reflect on how they and the university can move towards a culture of more open research. In this workshop, we will consider open research principles and practices that increase transparency and rigour and accelerate the reach of our research.

Open research describes approaches to increase openness throughout the research cycle, including collaborative working, sharing and making research methodology, software, code, data, documentation and publications freely available online under terms that enable their reuse. Open research thereby increases the transparency, rigour and reproducibility of the research process and so can promote inclusivity, accelerate impact and improve public trust.  However, understanding and adopting open research practices can be challenging. This workshop therefore will explore strategies for culture change here at Newcastle University.

Workshop Details

Date: Thursday 30th September, 10.00 – 12.00.
Venue: Online.
Facilitators: Chris Emmerson and Steve Boneham.

Programme

  1. Introduction to open research
  2. Researcher perspectives on open research:
    1. Melissa Bateson – Professor of Ethology – Biosciences
    2. Greg Mutch – NU Academic Track Fellow – Engineering
    3. David Johnson – PhD Researcher – History, Classics and Archaeology
  3. Comfort break
  4. Breakout groups

    To discuss how the university can move towards a culture of open research by considering core aspects of the Center for Open Science strategy for culture change

    1. Systems and tools – what systems and research tools are needed to facilitate open sharing and documentation
    2. Support and training – what research support and training researchers require to undertake open research activities 
    3. Recognition and rewards – how open research behaviours can be encouraged, recognised and rewarded
    4. Policy – the role policy changes and interventions that require change to occur in open research practices at Newcastle

4. Reflections and next steps

*** This event is now fully booked. Please email RDM@ncl.ac.uk should you wish to discuss future Open Research events. ***