Open Research Awards

The Newcastle University Open Research Awards recognise staff and students who have used open practices to make research more accessible, transparent or reproducible, and demonstrate an understanding of the aims of open research.

The awards are open to all students and colleagues working in any research-related role, at any stage, within any area of the University. Prizes are awarded as vouchers to the winner of the Open Research Award (£500), second place (£250) and third place (£150). Additional prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the panel. We also encourage nominations for prizes of £50 each to recognise those who have helped to make research more open, but do not wish to submit a full case study.

These awards were made possible thanks to Newcastle University’s Enhancing Research Culture Project Fund in support of our Research Culture Action Plan. 

The winners of Open Research Awards are listed below. The awards will run again in 2024 and details of how to enter will be added here in due course.

Open Research Award Winners 

Open Research Awards 2023

Winner

• Jordan Cuff, Research Associate, Natural and Environmental Sciences for "Untangling the web of mistrust in arachnology with open research practices."

Second prize

• Melissa Bateson. Professor of Ethology, Biosciences for "Measuring Behaviour Better. My attempt to lead the Open Science journey in behavioural biology."

Third prize (joint)

• Mike Diessner, PhD Candidate in Computing for "NUBO – an open-source AI framework for optimisation."
• Chris Hackney. NUAcT Fellow, Geography, Politics & Sociology for "Shedding light on the murky world of sand mining in SE Asia."

Commendations

• Louise Rayne. NUAcT Fellow: Water Security, History, Classics and Archaeology for "Automated Archaeological Change Detection."
• Gareth Richards, Lecturer, Psychology for "Embedding Open Research Practices in Psychology through teaching."

Nominations

• Daniel Hinds. Executive Support Administrator, SAgE Professional Services.
• Bethany Hunter. Research Technician, FMS Professional Services.

Open Research Awards 2022

Winner 

• Sam Orange for "Embedding a programme of open research in health science."

Second prize

• Renae Stefanetti for "Measuring the Effects of Exercise in Neuromuscular Disorders."

Third prize

• Elizabeth Lewis for "Open source data and software for understanding climate impacts."

Commendations

• Courtney Neal. PhD Researcher, Population Health Sciences Institute for “If at first you don’t succeed... Using public pre-registration when replicating published research"
• Lenka Pelechova for "Version control for cell engineering – new processes & tools for more open and trustworthy engineering biology"