Abstract

The research ecosystem increasingly demands spaces for debate, mutual learning, and reflection, where theoretical and practical insights can be exchanged. Research managers often face challenges in finding shared platforms with other stakeholders in science to discuss how their roles can contribute to an impact-driven, responsible, and open research.
“Transformative Science Tuesdays” was created to build a dynamic community that brings together research managers, policymakers, researchers and other stakeholders. This initiative aims to foster active discussions on research evaluation, responsible research, research impact, and other collaborative and transformative ways of conducting and managing research. It is the result of a collaboration between AQuAS, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV) and CWTS.
Since October 2023, sessions have been held every two months, each focusing on a specific topic. From the beginning, participants have played an active role, proposing discussion and volunteering as speaker candidates. To date, the community has addressed subjects such as the reform of research assessment, open science, research impact, the role of public administration in scientific policy, transformative leadership, citizen science, and innovation ecosystems. Each session features three or four speakers and a moderator, who also engages the audience in the discussion.
These sessions are designed to offer diverse perspectives on each topic, provided by the varied backgrounds of the speakers. This approach positions each issue as a collective problem, requiring inputs from multiple perspectives. Research managers are an important piece of the puzzle, serving as bridges between policymakers and researchers, but often find difficulties in addressing identified challenges. The debates fostered in these sessions allow for the exchange of ideas and solutions from different perspectives.
So far, “Transformative Science Tuesdays” has successfully engaged a significant number of participants and attracted key figures in policymaking, research, and research management across Catalonia.