Blog post by DCC Groningen and DCC UMCG
In this workshop, participants experienced reproducibility in action through an experiment using LEGO®. In the first part of the session, each group created a structure using LEGO® bricks and prepared accompanying documentation and instructions of how to create it. Afterwards, another group attempted to recreate the structure based on the provided documentation.
The exercise sparked lively discussions about the nuances of metadata and different documentation styles, the challenges of interpreting and applying it, and the critical role they play in ensuring that research can be reliably reproduced. One of the interesting conclusions was that keeping reproducibility in mind not only influences the approach to documentation and metadata but also shapes the design of the structure (i.e., research project) to ensure its reproducibility.
Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many appreciated the innovative approach, noting that the hands-on activity helped solidify their understanding of the importance of proper documentation and metadata’s practical application. The workshops also fostered a sense of community and collaboration, as participants shared their experiences and insights.
Spot the difference
Can you spot the difference (or lack thereof) between some of the original creations from our participants and the reconstructed versions from another team?
Reproducible materials
In line with the reproducibility theme, this workshop used materials from the University of Glasgow1 and participants were encouraged to bring this workshop to their own networks.
We are grateful to the Netherlands Reproducibility Network for providing us with the opportunity to share our knowledge and engage with such a passionate group of individuals. We look forward to continuing our efforts to promote research reproducibility and hope to bring more creative and interactive workshops to future events!
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On December 6th, 2024, the Digital Competence Center (DCC) from the University of Groningen and the DCC from the University Medical Center Groningen had the pleasure of attending the Netherlands Reproducibility Network Symposium. This event brought together researchers, data managers, and enthusiasts dedicated to improving the reproducibility of scientific research from all over the country. As part of the symposium, the two DCCs collaboratively presented two engaging sessions of a workshop titled “A LEGO® Metadata Challenge.”
1 Donaldson, M.and Mahon, M.(2019) LEGO® Metadata for Reproducibility game pack. Documentation. University of Glasgow. (doi: 10.36399/gla.pubs.196477).