The DORA team is delighted to invite you to celebrate DORA’s 13th anniversary with the launch of A Practical Guide to Implementing Responsible Research Assessment at Research Funding Organizations, a new resource designed to support funders in strengthening research quality, equity, and impact.
Co‑hosted with our partners at the Global Research Council and Science Europe, this series of three online panel events brings together research funders from across regions to discuss how responsible research assessment (RRA) can be implemented in different policy, funding, and institutional contexts.
Event schedule and speakers
To cater for our global community, you can choose between:
- Americas: Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 14:00 EDT – register here
- Panellists Ana Denicola (SNI, ANII; Uruguay), Emily Ford (ORFG; United States), Olival Freire (CNPq; Brazil)
- Hosted by DORA Co-Chair Kelly Cobey (University of Ottawa; Canada) & GRC RRA WG Co-Chair Shawn McGuirk (NSERC; Canada)
- Asia-Pacific: Thursday, 14 May 2026, 14:00 AEST – register here
- Panellists Lee Harris (ARC; Australia), Mark Stagg (Royal Society Te Apārangi; Aotearoa New Zealand)
- Co-hosted by DORA Co-Chair Ginny Barbour (QUT; Australia) & GRC RRA WG Member Grace Estillore (DOST PCIEERD; Philippines)
- Africa & Europe: Friday, 16 May 2025, 10:00:00 BST – register here
- Panellists Nosisa Dube (NRF; South Africa), Annalisa Montesanti (HRC; Ireland)
- Co-hosted by DORA Vice-Chair Rebecca Lawrence (F1000) & Secretary General Lidia Borrell-Damián (Science Europe)
Why and what of this Guide
Many research funding organizations are committed to reforming research assessment, yet often lack the time or capacity to step back and determine where change is most feasible. This Guide offers practical, funder‑focused activities, including engaging leadership, shaping strategic visions for RRA, mobilising resources, and embedding change at key moments across the funding lifecycle.
Designed as a flexible and inspirational resource, the Guide recognises that there is no single model for responsible research assessment. Through this launch and future events, we invite funders to explore how the Guide can be adapted to diverse national and institutional environments.
The Guide was co‑developed with funders and partners from across the global research ecosystem, including through DORA’s Funder Groups and a co‑creation workshop held alongside the CeRRA High‑Level Conference on Reforming Research Assessment in Copenhagen (December 2025).
