After a successful pilot, Proceedings B has now partnered with AI-driven platform DataSeer.ai, as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance open data compliance.
To support research integrity and open science, Royal Society Publishing has an open data requirement for authors. This practice allows others to verify and build on published work and serves to promote greater openness in scientific research. This is an important element of how science is perceived, trusted and used by the public to inform policy (Gomes DGE et al. 2022 Why don’t we share data and code? Perceived barriers and benefits to public archiving practices. Proc. R. Soc. B289: 20221113).
Journals have a responsibility to ensure that data and code, supporting the conclusions of articles, has been deposited in an appropriate repository and made freely accessible. However, managing and evaluating the quality and accessibility of data, code and statistical analyses in published articles is a growing problem, and there is increasing evidence that many published articles do not meet the data requirements set by journals.
At Proceedings B, our data sharing and mining policies indicate that it is a condition of publication that authors make available the data, code and research materials supporting the results in their articles. This needs to be done on submission. In January 2024, the journal recruited a team of eight data editors who are responsible for assessing data sets and data statements for quality, completeness and reliability, ensuring that the journal’s open data policies are adhered to.
With the exponential growth of scientific data and the increasing emphasis on transparency, there has been a corresponding demand for innovative solutions to streamline the open data compliance process. Under the new agreement, DataSeer.ai will provide its cutting-edge AI-powered platform and open data reports to Proceedings B enabling detailed checks for compliance with open research data mandates. Leveraging advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities, DataSeer.ai’s platform can efficiently analyse vast datasets, identify potential compliance issues, and provide actionable insights to researchers and institutions. The Data Editors will use these reports as part of their data assessment process.
Phil Hurst, Publisher, The Royal Society, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “DataSeer.ai is vital in helping our Editors ensure data supporting research findings are as complete and accessible as possible. This is part of a wider aim to maintain research integrity in increasingly challenging times.”
Dr. Tim Vines, CEO and Founder of DataSeer.ai, echoed Phil’s sentiments, emphasizing the significance of the partnership in advancing the principles of open science. “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Royal Society in promoting greater transparency and accountability in research, and promoting alignment to funder mandates. Our AI-driven platform will help authors adhere to open research data policies, ultimately enhancing the integrity and reliability of scientific findings.”
The agreement between the Royal Society and DataSeer.ai signifies a pivotal step towards revolutionising data compliance practices within the research community. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, both organisations are committed to fostering a culture of openness, collaboration, and integrity in scientific research.
Find out more about the Proceedings B Data Editors in our recently published blogs – part 1 and part 2.
