We specifically explored the skills, tools and practices that will help collaborative research become more transparent, well-documented and reproducible so that researchers can collaborate with others (and with themselves in the future!).
We then discussed how to do the challenging uae rcs data work of documenting the mind, mental processes, workflows, and research habits. Although tricky, there are several useful ideas that can help researchers improve their skills in this area.
For example, exploring various tools to capture ideas (notebook by the bed, anyone?) seems obvious but is often overlooked in an environment where some people subconsciously believe that “I am clever and so will remember this brilliant idea without writing it down!”
Other overlooked skills include setting aside time to look through the captured ideas, reflecting critically on ideas to turn them from vague plans into concrete and scheduled steps organised by priority or urgency, and taking time to reflect on whether current work practices are effective or helpful. Documentation and organisation turn out to have very positive impacts on reproducibility as well as mental health, teamwork, and even career progression.