Call for Proposals

Lightning Talks | Workshops

Submissions now open for NORFest 2025
6–7 November, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin

We are inviting members of the open research community to take part in Ireland’s National Open Research Festival 2025 by delivering a lightning talk or leading an interactive workshop.

Day 1 of the event will feature two rounds of lightning talks (max. 5 mins) focusing respectively on cross-cutting policy agendas or open research for innovation topics. We anticipate a total of 4 lightning talks per session. More details on lightning talk topics can be found below [Topics of Interest].

On Day 1 there is also space for a maximum of two “Open Research 101” hands-on workshops (duration 105 mins). Open Research 101 workshops are interactive, introductory sessions designed to build awareness and foundational skills in open research practices across all disciplines. These workshops aim to support researchers and research support staff in adopting principles such as open access, FAIR data and responsible research assessment into their workflows.

Day 2 will consist of community engagement workshops (duration 105 mins). Workshops should be interactive, and proposals that encourage the participation of attendees will be given priority.

Workshops and sessions will be held in-person only at the Royal Irish Academy. We expect all presenters (or their representatives) to be able to attend the event on the premises, unless otherwise agreed for exceptional circumstances. Day 1 sessions will be live streamed.

Topics of Interest

Lightning Talks

Cross-cutting Policy Agendas

• Research assessment reform
• Incentives for open practices
• Open research policy alignment
• Research integrity and transparency
• Ethics in open research
• Open research skills training
• Public and community engagement
• Open research and SDGs

Open Research for Innovation

• Open data for innovation ecosystems
• FAIR-by-design research workflows
• AI tools in open research
• Open Access for innovation
• Emerging publishing models and infrastructure
• Innovation through open collaboration
• Research outputs as a public good
• Startups and spinouts using open practices
• Open Source Software

Workshop Types

• Practical hands-on “Open Research 101” workshops (held on the Thursday)
• Community engagement workshops (held on the Friday)

Please note that submissions are not limited to these topics.

Submissions

All applications must be submitted via the Jotform link by 17:00 (Irish Local Time) 27 June 2025.

Lightning Talk Application Form

Lightning talks focus on one key point. It is an opportunity for an idea, a successful project or a quick tip to get the attention they deserve, within a maximum of five minutes.

In the case of lightning talks, proposals will need to include the following information:

• Names and contact details of presenter
• Affiliation and role
• The targeted theme of the lightning talk
• Title and short description (max. 500 words) summarising the lightning talk, its rationale, and relevance for the participants of the National Open Research Festival.

The lightning talk application form is available here.

Workshop Application Form

In the case of both Open Research 101 and community engagement workshops, proposals will need to include the following information:

• Name and contact details of organiser(s)
• Institutional affiliations and roles of organisers
• Format and structure
• Title and short description (max. 500 words) summarising the workshop, its rationale, and relevance for the participants of the National Open Research Festival
• Target audience
• Outcomes for participants
• Requirements (screen, flip chart, etc.)

The workshop application form is available here.

It will be a provision of acceptance that all outputs and supporting materials, as well as materials required for the provision of workshops and training, will be open.

Review Process

Each submission will be reviewed by two reviewers selected from the Programme Committee, and/or reviewers identified by the Programme Committee members. External reviewers will be chosen by the Programme Committee according to their expertise in open research.

Lightning talk submissions will be reviewed against the following criteria:

1. Relevance to the event aims – The proposal clearly states the topic, objectives and key message of the lightning talk in a concise and understandable way.
2. Relevance to the selected session – The proposed talk aligns well with the session’s theme.
3. Originality and insight – The talk offers a fresh perspective, innovative idea, or practical insight likely to engage and inform the audience.
4. Structure and clarity – The proposal demonstrates that the topic can be effectively communicated within a short, time-limited format.

Open Research 101 workshop proposals will be reviewed against the following criteria:

1. Clarity and coherence of workshop aims – The submission clearly outlines the purpose, learning objectives, and intended outcomes of the workshop in a structured and accessible way.
2. Relevance to open research principles – The workshop content aligns with foundational open research themes (e.g. open access, FAIR data, open peer review, responsible research assessment), tailored for a general or beginner audience.
3. Engagement and accessibility – The proposed format encourages active participation and is designed to be inclusive and accessible to attendees across disciplines and career stages.
4. Facilitator expertise and readiness – The facilitators demonstrate relevant knowledge, experience, and preparedness to deliver the workshop effectively.

Community engagement workshops will be reviewed against the following criteria:

1. Clarity of objectives and structure – The workshop proposal clearly articulates its aims, intended learning outcomes, and planned structure or activities.
2. Relevance to community engagement in research – The content meaningfully addresses topics such as participatory research, co-creation, citizen science, or collaboration with non-academic partners.
3. Engagement and accessibility – The proposed format encourages active participation and is designed to be inclusive and accessible to attendees across disciplines and career stages.
4. Facilitator experience and delivery approach – The facilitators demonstrate relevant knowledge, experience, and preparedness to deliver the workshop effectively.