Recognising all research outputs and everyone involved in their creation

Simon Hettrick

5 August 2025 - STI-ENID, Bristol     ORCID: 0000-0002-6809-5195

If we don't recognise everyone who is vital to research,

we limit our ability to conduct research.

www.software.ac.uk

Use software

Fundamental to results

69%

92%

n=417

Who's writing all the software?

Ascension, John Singleton Copley, Public Domain

Researcher

Software

Engineer

Research

Software

Engineer

>10,000 RSEs worldwide

Image courtesy Dan Katz

Why did it take until the 2010s to recognise that the people who create research software are important?

 

It's down to how we recognise success in research

WHY ARE WE HERE?

Discovery, reliability, reproducibility, transparency.

Publications are the Bhurj Khalifa

Height = 830 m

Exhibitions are a typical UK house

~ 5 m

Software is a matchbox

~ 5 cm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(standing on its side)

Publications are Thrust SSC

763 mph

Exhibitions are a horse

~20 mph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(cantering not galloping)

Software is a snail

~0.05 mph

Publications are a Blue Whale

120,000 kg

Exhibitions are a Rhinoceros

~5,000 kg

Software is a Dachshund

~7 kg

What's your problem with publictions?

People who are

vital to research

People who are named in publications

Academics

RSEs, Technicians,

Librarians, Data

Stewards, PRISMS,

RMAs... and more

The Venn of academic importance and recognition

Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome

- Charlie Munger

What if publications weren't the only way to measure research success?

Recognising all research outputs and every role that makes research possible

 

www.hidden-ref.org

The Hidden Role

CC-BY William Murphy 

Data stewards and managers, Librarians, Technicians, Lived Experience Contributors (including patients), Research Software Engineers, PRISMS (Professional Research Investment and Strategy Managers), Professional Services Personnel, Public Engagement Professionals (PEPs), RMAs (Research Managers and Administrators) and Clinical Trials Managers.

Impact

BREAKING

NEWS

2025-2030

Barriers to change

  • Lack of awareness
  • Lack of guidance
  • Inherent difficulty of comparison
  • Fear of affecting funding

 

Text

Thinktank, Birmingham

7-8 October 2025

If we recognise everyone who is vital to research,

we advance our ability to conduct research.

Thank you!

@sjh5000

ORCID: 0000-0002-6809-5195, EPSRC Grant no: EP/S021779/1

Licence

 © Simon Hettrick. These slides are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International : https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Link to slides

https://slides.com/simonhettrick/lirg-2025

 

Email

sjh@ecs.soton.ac.uk

Image credits

  • Earth rise: public domain with thanks to NASA
  • Bhurj Khalifa: CC-BY-SA courtesy Donaldytong
  • Bungalow: CC-BY-SA courtesy Peter Wyatt
  • Lego man: CC-BY courtesy Brickset
  • Newsflash background: Shubham Dhage on Unsplash

  •  

    Barrier: Matthew Garoffolo on Unsplash