Research Systems Labs
Research Systems Labs are focused working sessions built around a concrete problem affecting contemporary research systems. They are intended for active analysis and exchange, not for a sequence of conventional panel presentations.
The final number, themes, facilitators and participation model will depend on the Call for Contributions and programme curation.
What makes a Lab different
A defined system problem
Each Lab begins with a specific institutional, methodological, infrastructural or policy challenge that benefits from multiple forms of expertise.
A facilitated process
The format should create structured participation rather than rely on a long sequence of prepared speeches.
Mixed perspectives
Labs can connect researchers with research managers, libraries, infrastructures, funders, policymakers and institutional leaders where relevant to the problem.
A shareable outcome
Where appropriate, a Lab may produce a short synthesis, problem map, set of questions, design principles or other public outcome after the Forum.
Possible areas of work
Lab themes will be curated through the four scientific pillars. Possible problem spaces include responsible institutional use of AI, research-integrity workflows, assessment reform, multilingual and open scholarly communication, research infrastructure governance, data and metadata practices, institutional capability-building, and the relationship between research organisations and public policy. These examples are indicative rather than a final list of Labs.
Proposing a Lab
The formal Call for Contributions is expected to explain whether Labs can be proposed by individuals, teams or institutions and what information a proposal must provide. A strong Lab concept will normally need a clearly bounded problem, a reason why collaborative work is appropriate, an intended participant mix, a facilitation approach and a realistic output.
Commercial product pitches or sponsored promotional sessions are not part of the scientific Lab model. Institutional and commercial support is handled separately from scientific programme curation.