GreenDIGIT Deliverable D5.1: Reproducible platform design with a web-based Virtual Research Environment

The GreenDIGIT project’s Deliverable 5.1 presents a web-based Virtual Research Environment (VRE) that streamlines scientific research by making it more sustainable, reproducible, and aligned with Open Science principles. Built on the widely used Jupyter notebook platform, the VRE guides researchers through the entire experiment lifecycle, from planning and execution to analysis and sharing. By connecting with federated data management infrastructures, it ensures research outputs are easily discoverable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable, adhering to FAIR data standards. This integration fosters collaboration and transparency across scientific communities.

At the core of the VRE is a 4-Pillar Conceptual Reproducibility Framework, which provides a structured approach to defining experiments clearly, executing them consistently, and preserving them for future use. This framework minimises redundant experiments, saving resources and enhancing trust in results. The VRE extends Jupyter with tools to support sustainable research, including a design extension that creates portable experiment workflows. Additionally, the EcoJupyter plugin offers real-time tracking of energy consumption and carbon footprint through intuitive metrics like Software Carbon Intensity, empowering researchers to make environmentally conscious decisions. The SLICES Metadata Registry Service (MRS) further enhances this by organising experiment data into a searchable, structured format that complements the RO-Crate standard, ensuring long-term accessibility and preservation. Automated publishing to federated platforms simplifies sharing, making research outputs widely available and reusable.

The VRE’s flexible, modular design supports a range of scientific domains and is built to evolve. Improvements include enhanced user interfaces and stronger integration with repositories such as Zenodo and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). By embedding sustainability and reproducibility, the GreenDIGIT VRE reduces resource waste and promotes transparent, impactful science, setting a strong foundation for responsible research aligned with global sustainability goals.