Open Research: Preprints and Peer Review

The value of your research is no longer defined solely by the journal in which it appears. Increasingly, it’s shaped by how openly you share your methods, data, code, analyses and even your peer review reports. This workshop explores how Open Research culture is transforming the way research is conducted, communicated and assessed – equipping you with the skills and confidence to engage with these changes strategically and responsibly.

As part of the cultural shift, academic publishing is evolving. Researchers are sharing preprints to accelerate dissemination, funders are introducing policies that mandate immediate open access, and new peer review models offer varying degrees of transparency for authors, reviewers and readers.

In this course, you will learn the principles, practices and benefits of Open Research. We will home in on the diverse publishing and peer review models, examining the implications of funder policies and how they affect publishing choices. We will discuss the practical considerations involved in posting a preprint or submitting to an open peer review journal and reflect on how open practices can enhance the quality, visibility and impact of your research.

Whether you're preparing your first preprint, preparing a grant application or navigating funder mandates, this workshop offers a solid foundation for making informed, responsible choices in a rapidly changing research landscape.

This course is open to Postdocs, Research Fellows & Research Degree Students.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this workshop, you will be better able to:

• Explain the principles, practices and benefits of Open Research
• Recognise different systems of peer review and preprints
• Recognise the new peer review and preprint policies used by research funders in assessment
• Identify the practical  implications of submitting a preprint or using open peer review models
• Judge how preprints and open peer review may benefit your research, including how you can be recognised and rewarded for your efforts