Snapshots of Reform: Webinar Recordings Now Available

Video recordings of the two webinar sessions organised by the Global Young Academy (GYA), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and the International Science Council (ISC), held on 24 and 25 June 2024, are now available. These sessions are part of our ongoing efforts to foster dialogue and action around the reform of researcher evaluation practices.

In 2023, GYA, IAP and ISC released “The Future of Research Evaluation: A Synthesis of Current Debates and Developments.” Building on this foundational work, we are pleased to present “Snapshots of Reform: Researcher Evaluation within Science Organizations.” This latest report captures the practices and aspirations of our memberships and sets the stage for future initiatives.

Watch the Webinar Recordings:

Session 1: June 24, 2024

Session 2: June 25, 2024

Key Insights from the Report

The report underscores the growing momentum in the conversation around research evaluation, moving beyond traditional metrics that prioritize quantity over quality. Key initiatives like the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) have been instrumental in driving this change. It is evident that systemic reform is essential to create an environment where all researchers can thrive.

Derived from extensive research, surveys and interviews, the report provides a detailed analysis of the current state of researcher evaluation. It highlights the diverse perspectives within our community and acknowledges that a one-size-fits-all approach is neither feasible nor desirable.

Innovative Practices and Challenges

We are inspired by the innovative practices and pilot initiatives of our member organizations. These include new evaluation formats such as narrative CVs and broader impact assessments, which offer a more comprehensive view of a researcher’s contributions. However, the complex interdependencies within researcher assessment, publication, university ranking systems and other metrics mean that change requires collective action from a critical fraction of the researcher community.

Recommendations for Supporting Reform

The report identifies several ways our organizations can support the reform of researcher evaluation:

• Championing Missing Voices: Ensuring diverse perspectives are included in the reform dialogue.
• Lending Credibility: Using our platforms to put reform on the global agenda.
• Supporting Tipping Point Interventions: Backing initiatives that are ready to scale.
• Protecting Researcher Mobility: Promoting policies that facilitate global researcher movement.
• Promoting Idea Exchange: Encouraging the sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

These recommendations are closely aligned with the core missions of GYA, IAP and ISC. We are committed to supporting our members through this transformative period by fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge and advocating for necessary policy changes.

We extend our gratitude to all participating organizations for their valuable contributions. We hope the insights and recommendations presented in the report will be instrumental in driving positive change within the research community.

For more information about the GYA-IAP-ISC Initiative on Research Evaluation, click here.
Watch all the video recordings of IAP activities on our YouTube channel here.