From November 19 to 21, 2024, the University of Split welcomed participants to the SEA-EU Staff Week. Held at the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences (MedILS), the program centered on the theme “Responsible, Reproducible, and Open Science,” bringing together researchers, educators, and administrators to foster ethical practices and enhance the quality of scientific research across the SEA-EU network.
The first day focused on research integrity and the importance of open science practices. Prof. Ana Marušić opened with a keynote emphasizing transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility in research. Workshops included Prof. Julia Priess-Buchheit’s session on applying open science principles to enhance collaboration and transparency, PhD Antonija Mijatović’s practical training on detecting digital image manipulation, and Prof. Željana Bašić’s discussion on managing open data. Together, these sessions provided essential tools and insights for fostering integrity and transparency in scientific work.
Day two focused on reproducibility in research and its link to open science. Prof. Ivan Buljan delivered a keynote on enhancing research reliability through artificial intelligence and open-source tools. This was followed by an interactive session, “Reproducibility and Open Science: What Would You Do?” led by Inge Stegeman, Professor at UMC Utrecht, where participants discussed the benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations of open science in improving reproducibility. A hands-on workshop later provided practical techniques to apply these principles, building on insights from the day’s sessions.A hands-on workshop later in the day provided participants with practical techniques to enhance reproducibility, building on the themes explored during the keynote and interactive sessions.
On the third and final day, the focus shifted to applying the knowledge gained during the event. Prof. Marušić returned to lead a discussion on the ethical challenges in scientific publishing, such as predatory journals and the complexities of peer review. Participants collaborated in a session to develop personalized action plans, ensuring they could integrate the principles of research integrity and open science into their fields. A guided cultural tour of Split, led by Ana Ćosić, Head of the International Relations Office, provided a welcome opportunity for informal networking and cultural enrichment.
The SEA-EU Staff Week reinforced Work Package 1 (WP1) by providing participants with tools and strategies to promote ethical, transparent, and reproducible research. Expert-led sessions and discussions allowed attendees to share best practices, tackle challenges, and explore innovations like AI for reproducibility. The event fostered a culture of responsibility and collaboration, leaving participants with actionable insights and a strengthened commitment to research integrity, underscoring SEA-EU’s dedication to high-quality scientific work and research excellence across Europe.
