Agents Of Change: The Journey Of Updating An RDM Policy, And How It Can Act As A Catalyst For Reimagining Open Research Policy

Taking over two years from inception to completion, the University of Bristol has recently launched a new modular Open Research Policy , with built in flexibility to easily allow additions to the suite as the practices and norms of open research evolve across different disciplines and contexts. This paper will set out how the University of Bristol Library Research Data Service and Open Access Team worked in partnership with stakeholders across and outside of the University to update existing policies related to open research. By creating an overarching policy with an agile approach to changes in research culture, research integrity, and open research, the new structure of the policy gives space for fast responses to revisions in funder and publisher policy, changes in research culture and a full transition to open research as ‘business as usual,’ a model which diversifies how researchers undertake research, engage with the wider society, and how they are recognised and rewarded for their endeavours.