On October 31, 2024, we successfully launched the first session of our monthly Fireside Chat series. This initiative is designed to foster an open and informal environment for our community to engage in discussions about emerging trends, innovations, and challenges at the intersection of data science, AI, and policymaking. The October session was marked by lively conversations, greatly enhanced by the involvement of our newly appointed area editors.
In this inaugural Fireside Chat, Kiera McNeice, Research Data Manager at Cambridge University Press, presented on “Supporting Research Transparency in Journals.” Dr. McNeice emphasized the significance of transparency in published research and shared key principles and best practices that can enhance research integrity. Among the innovative approaches she discussed were:
- Registered Reports: A publishing format developed by the Center for Open Science that rewards good research practices. Unlike traditional articles, authors submit their study design and protocol for peer review before conducting research. This process aims to reduce publication bias by evaluating significant portions of the manuscript prior to data collection, ensuring that articles are not rejected based solely on null results or deviations from predictions.
- Annotation for Transparent Inquiry: Annotation for Transparent Inquiry (ATI) is a new tool designed to facilitate transparency in qualitative and mixed-methods research by providing a framework for researchers to annotate their findings. This initiative promotes reproducibility and facilitates a deeper understanding of the research process.
Throughout the event, participants actively engaged with Dr. McNeice during a lively Q&A session, posing insightful questions and sharing ideas on how to foster open and transparent research practices for the Data & Policy journal. Feedback from attendees highlighted the importance of such discussions for building a more transparent research ecosystem that aligns with the evolving needs of data science and policy development.
Additionally, during the Fireside Chat, Zeynep Engin, the Founding Director of Data for Policy CIC, provided updates on our ongoing initiatives. She shared insights on the preparations for the Data for Policy 2025 regional conferences and announced the Data for Policy 2025 Conference – Europe Edition.
We look forward to continuing these vital conversations and fostering collaboration in future Fireside Chats! Stay tuned for announcements about our next session.