Last week, some members of the OpenScienceLab, part of the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), had the privilege of attending Metascience 2025, a worldwide event focused on sharing knowledge, fostering community, and outlining a strategic research agenda to drive scientific progress. The experience was incredibly enriching, especially for those of us who are pre-docs. Attending the conference not only provided valuable knowledge but also challenged us to think outside the box, sparking new ideas and directions for our upcoming theses.
In most of the sessions, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerged as a prominent theme. It was clear that AI has become one of the most discussed topics in metascience today. AI was approached from multiple perspectives: how research founders are working with AI, its role in peer review, how AI is being adopted across various scientific fields, and the ethical implications of its integration. These discussions sparked lively debates about AI’s transformative potential in scientific research, opening up new and exciting avenues for future research.
Engaging with Reproducibility Networks
One session that stood out was What’s the Future of Grassroots Networks for Reproducibility and Reform?, where we engaged with members from several Reproducibility Networks (RNs), including the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), the Norwegian Reproducibility Network (NORRN), the Brazilian Reproducibility Network (BrRN), and the Ukrainian Reproducibility Network (UARN). As founders of the Spanish Reproducibility Network (SPRN), this discussion was particularly valuable, providing us with fresh ideas that we’ll use to further develop our network, which is currently in the process of construction.
Overall, Metascience 2025 provided an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the current state of science, exchange innovative ideas, and build connections that will help shape the future of research. As we move forward, the insights gained from this conference will undoubtedly inspire and inform our work, especially as we continue to explore new frontiers in AI and reproducibility.