From three young scientists in a room to a global network

If academia were a forest, ReproducibiliTea would be a campfire where honest conversations happen. No spooky stories here. Instead, we bring together people from different backgrounds and from every corner of the world. And, as on any good hike, the steps get lighter when we share the weight and navigate the map together.

In 2018, three early-career researchers (ECRs) started this initiative by creating a journal club on reproducibility and open science called ReproducibiliTea. The aim ever since has been to create space for researchers to come together and discuss topics related to open and reproducible research, research integrity, and academic culture; to build a community; and, ultimately, to transform research practice and culture from the bottom up. 

The journal club idea quickly resonated with the passionate hearts of many researchers who picked up the initiative and helped it spread across the UK, and soon across the rest of the world. ReproducibiliTea has kept growing ever since, with 128 journal clubs across more than 30 countries at the moment.

Visit the ReproducibiliTea website

Being involved in a ReproducibiliTea journal club has many benefits. You can: 

• build transferable skills in leadership, organization, community-building, and mediating discussions

• deepen your understanding of reproducibility challenges

• stay up to date with the latest developments

• connect with peers who care about improving research culture

Participation in ReproducibiliTea can also help ECRs find their voice as part of a global movement, becoming advocates for open science practices and drivers of change at a local – or even global – level. 

A shoulder to rely on

ReproducibiliTea is more than a growing network dedicated to discussing and improving research practices. It is also a supportive, inclusive, and inspiring community. Behind ReproducibiliTea’s growth are ECRs themselves. Changing current practices can feel lonely and scary, especially for a young researcher trying to find their footing in the turbulent waters of academia. Being part of a community provides a shoulder to lean on when taking the first steps toward these changes. You don’t always need to look far, as your local community may already have its own ReproducibiliTea club.

How we help:

1. Check our calendar to join international communities that offer remote participation.

2. Or, better yet, open your own club. We have a handy guide on how to start in only 10 steps. 

3. Our collection of reading lists will help you catch up on either general or field-specific problems in research reproducibility. 

4. We have also compiled a list of resources, including popular science books, recordings, and games.

5. You might want to tune in to our podcast, where we talk about all things reproducibility and open science with expert guests. 

More than just a journal club

Besides playing games or listening to a podcast, you can take part in our newest project with your journal club fellows, in which we aim to add an extra layer of rigor by reviewing papers after they have been published (post-publication reviewing). The journal clubs are free to decide how they want to go about it and if they want to publish their reviews. And, no need to take out pitchforks! These reviews are intended to highlight the strengths of a publication alongside constructive critique, while encouraging ECRs to engage in academic discourse, practice peer review, and share the outcomes of their journal club discussions.

We are looking to connect with ECRs all around the world

We are particularly trying to balance local support and global actions that shape reforms in research practice and culture. We already collaborate with and/or are connected to: 

• the Framework for Open and Reproducible Research Training

• the UK Reproducibility Network

• reproducibility networks in several countries

We are always open to exploring new connections with other initiatives and organizations, and we would welcome every opportunity to represent ReproducibiliTea at conferences and events to share and educate on current academic challenges. So, if you are representing an organization and are interested in joining forces with us, don’t hesitate to get in touch! 

How to reach us:

Email

LinkedIn

Mastodon

Bluesky

We would like to thank Helena Gellersen for proofreading.