[4] Conferences & Exhibitions

Sharing research output and findings is one of the main part in research activities. Research findings have the potential to influence positive changes in the way government and other key institutions conduct business, especially in relation to the development and implementation of policies affecting the poor and the marginalized [Elias Banda]. University of Oregon (UO) library has identified five reasons on why we should share our research findings [UO]:
  • To fulfill funder's requirements. NSF expects researchers to share their data, and some Divisions have specific guidelines, such as: NSF Division of Ocean Sciences, Division of Earth Sciences, Social, Behavioral & Economic Science. Other federal agencies are increasingly expecting researchers to share the data from publicly funded research. NIH has outlined key elements to consider in preparing a data sharing plan.
  • Some journals and societies require data archiving.
  • To raise interest in your research. Sharing detailed research data is associated with increased citation rate. (PLoS ONE)
  • To speed research, particularly in complex research fields
  • To establish priority and a public record.

In public transportation sector, research data sharing among researchers in the same field is important as they can interact each other and share the methods to improve the system. Conferences and exhibitions are appropriate platforms for them to do so.