Meta-science, the study of scientific practice itself, is a field crucial for fostering and monitoring research transparency, reproducibility, and integrity. Recognizing the need for a community among early-career meta scientists in The Netherlands (and its neighbouring countries), the Platform for Young Meta-Scientists (PYMS) formed in 2018. PYMS is dedicated to supporting and connecting young meta-scientists, providing them with a collaborative environment to share resources and discuss new research ideas.
NLRN and PYMS: strong bonds
Collaborating with meta-scientists is one of the focus areas of the NLRN. Evidence-based interventions and monitoring strategies are pivotal to a successful move towards more reproducible science. It is the meta-sciences that can generate such evidence. We are therefore happy to work together with PYMS and wholeheartedly support their mission.
Highlights from the PYMS Meeting in Tilburg: May 31, 2024
The recent PYMS meeting at the Meta-Research Center at Tilburg University was a testament to the vibrant and dynamic nature of the PYMS network. The program featured both formal presentations and informal networking opportunities. A crucial part of the meeting was the brainstorming session on the future of PYMS, where attendees provided valuable feedback and ideas for future events and organizational strategies.
Here are a few examples of presentations to illustrate the wide range of expertise that participants brought to the meeting:
- Signe Glaesel (Leiden University): Discussed the challenges surrounding data sharing, including misinterpretations, intellectual property concerns, and the impact of data policies on participant willingness in sensitive studies.
- Caspar van Lissa (Tilburg University): Presented on text mining systematic reviews, addressing issues of inductive bias and reproducibility.
- Michele Nuijten (Tilburg University): Shared a four-step robustness check for research replicability, highlighting the prevalence of reproducibility problems and strategies to improve research robustness.
- Ana Barbosa Mendez (Erasmus University and Promovendi Netwerk Nederland (PNN)): Spoke on best practices in Open Science, mapping the needs of PhD students, and the holistic approach required for effective science communication and community building.
Looking Ahead: The Future of PYMS
The enthusiasm and engagement at the Tilburg meeting underscored the need for regular PYMS gatherings. Participants expressed interest in a more holistic approach, broadening the scope to include researchers from other scientific fields. Formalizing PYMS through stronger links with organizations like PNN and NLRN was also a key takeaway.
A concrete outcome of the brainstorming session in the afternoon are plans for a satellite event on December 5th, the day before the NLRN symposium in Groningen. All career-young researchers in the field of meta science are invited to join this event. More information will be shared via the NLRN newsletter and on social media.
For more information on upcoming PYMS events and how to get involved, visit metaresearch.nl and PYMS (metaphant.net).