Moves to support transparent and robust research at Lancaster University have taken a step forward with the University joining a leading UK body with a remit to ensure the UK retains its place as a centre for world-leading research.

Following national and international moves to adopt open access protocols in universities – making research freely available and open to all – Lancaster University has joined the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), a national body bringing together the very best research practices and knowledge.

As a research-intensive University with 91% of Lancaster's research independently rated as 'internationally excellent' or 'world leading' (according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework) and a thriving research culture, Lancaster takes its place in the UKRN to share best practice and learn from other high-quality research institutes.

From training and peer learning to cross sector networking, the UKRN seeks to improve the reproducibility of research across all faculties, University Research Institutes and many interdisciplinary research centres meaning that research at every stage from methodology to results, should be openly available to all and replicable.

Lancaster’s research spans four faculties and many interdisciplinary research centres which between them have a global profile – according to the most recent REF, 88% of Lancaster's research is rated 4* 'world leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent' for outputs. Joining the UKRN will further strengthen the quality and profile of that work.

Lancaster University’s Cross-faculty Associate Dean for Research Professor Malcolm Joyce will represent the University on the UKRN. He said: “At its most fundamental level to test research is of high quality we must be able to reproduce results. We also need to ensure processes are in place which would enable another group or team to learn from our work and come to the same set of results or findings.”

The UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) is a national peer-led consortium that aims to ensure the UK retains its place as a centre for world-leading research. They do this by investigating the factors that contribute to robust research, promoting training activities, and disseminating best practice. We also work collaboratively with various external stakeholders to ensure coordination of efforts across the sector.