Better Research Isn’t a Luxury — It’s a Shared Responsibility

Why collaboration matters more than ever in research culture and security

In this new article for Research Professional News, Better research is not a luxury, but it needs a collective effort, Sapna Marwaha challenges the idea that we have to choose between improving research culture, integrity, and security. Instead, she argues it’s time to look for common causes—and more achievable when the sector pools its efforts.

While campaigns like open science, trusted research, and research culture often compete for attention and resources, the article suggests that the real opportunity lies in radical collaboration. It highlights that job precarity not only harms researchers’ wellbeing but creates vulnerabilities in research security, including increased intellectual property risks and reduced access to training on ethical conduct.

Financial pressure, shifting global partnerships, and perverse incentives around publishing are all driving potentially risky behaviours. And yet, the appetite for collaboration is growing, with more institutions describing their risk posture as “open” or “flexible”—often a practical response to uncertainty, limited funding, and complex regulation.

The solution? Work together on common challenges. Recognising the systemic issues causing problems across different areas, the article points to shared approaches as the engine of progress—even in lean times.

“Protecting the quality and integrity of UK research is a cross-sector responsibility that will require a cross-sector approach.”

Read the full article on Research Professional News:🔗 Better research is not a luxury, but it needs a collective effort