Our Open Research Services team organise a number of training sessions, both online and in-person, throughout the year. These sessions cover a range of information and tools you need to know as an LSE researcher.
Upcoming training and workshops
New Open Access Policy (in person)
Tuesday 28 January, 11am to 12pm
New Open Access Policy (online)
Thursday 30 January, 1pm to 2pm
Join us to learn about LSE’s new Open Access Policy, designed to empower researchers to retain the rights to their research publications and make their research freely accessible to all. Discover how this initiative will enhance the visibility and impact of your research, comply with funder mandates, and support the global movement towards open science. This is an opportunity to ask questions and learn how you can benefit from this transformative approach to scholarly publishing.
Introduction to Open research
Tuesday 4 February 10am to 11am
Join us for a session designed specifically for PhD students looking to explore the world of open research. This event will introduce you to the principles and practices of open research, highlighting its importance in fostering transparency, collaboration, and innovation in academia.
You will also find out more about open research for the social sciences and what support is available from LSE.
- What do we mean by "open research"?
- Why is open research important for you, your research and your audience?
- What practical steps can you take to become an open researcher, and how can the Library help?
The main presentation will last around 30 minutes, with plenty of time to follow for questions and discussion.or this.
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Advanced Literature searching for your research project
Thursday 13 February 11am to 12pm
Are you tired of getting lost in the vast ocean of information while conducting your research? Look no further! This event is designed to help you become a pro at finding a broader and more diverse range of resources. We will cover advanced techniques and strategies to enhance your literature searching skills. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and become a master researcher.
Aimed at PhD students who have undertaken an initial literature search and are interested in widening/expanding the sources they consult.
By the end of this session, you will:
- Know where to find and how to search across theses
- Have investigated ways to use Scopus and Web of Science to surface voices from outside the Anglo-American sphere
- Have discovered how to identify useful policy reports, working papers and think tank research with Policy Commons and Overton
- Have been introduced to our news databases, Nexis & Factiva
- Know how to find, read, and monitor academic journals in your area of study using Browzine
- Understand how the browser plugin LibKey Nomad can help you make more efficient use of the time you spend researching online
- Have been introduced to some of the main gateways to material that has been published Open Access.
We’re also keen to hear from participants about resources that they consult regularly and would recommend to other research students.
To make the most of the workshop, please bring your own device.
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Creating a publishing strategy for journals (in-person)
Tuesday 4 March 10am to 11.30am
Join us for an exciting in-person event at the LSE PhD Academy where we will dive into the world of journal publishing. This workshop will aim to demystify the journal publishing process and landscape. You will consider your motivations for publishing, learn how to choose and evaluate journals for your research and develop a publishing strategy for your next articles.
The workshop will include a short activity where you will get feedback on an abstract for your next article. Please come prepared with a short 150-200 word abstract.
Don't miss this opportunity to network with fellow academics and gain valuable knowledge to boost your publishing journey.
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Creating a publishing strategy for journals (online)
Thursday 6 March 3pm to 4pm
Join us for an exciting online event where we will dive into the world of journal publishing. This workshop will aim to demystify the journal publishing process and landscape. You will consider your motivations for publishing, learn how to choose and evaluate journals for your research and develop a publishing strategy for your next articles.
Don't miss this opportunity to network with fellow academics and gain valuable knowledge to boost your publishing journey.
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Preparing your thesis for Open Access
Tuesday 18 March 11am-12.30pm
Are you a PhD student planning to submit your thesis within the next 12 months? To gain a comprehensive understanding of the key areas you need to consider before submission, join our upcoming session at the LSE PhD Academy. We will outline how the thesis deposit process works and the benefits of making your research available in an Open Access repository. You’ll also learn about embargoes, third-party copyright, data protection laws, and how to share your research data effectively. Prepare thoroughly for your thesis submission and ensure you’re ready for every step of the process!
By the end of this session, you will:
- Understand about LSE Theses Online and fulfilling the examination requirements through deposit
- Have considered the advantages of making your work available in an Open Access repository
- Understand when an embargo may be necessary, and the process for requesting one
- Have reflected on 3rd party copyright and whether its use within your thesis requires rights holder permission
- Understand where you have used personal data in your thesis and how you can protect your research participants and comply with data protection law.
- Understand how you can share the data that underpins your thesis to benefit the knowledge community
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Reuse, Research, Recycle: Finding and using datasets in open data repositories
Thursday 3rd April 11am to 12.30pm
Doing research doesn’t always have to start with creating new data! In this session we are ‘going green’ and encourage students to take advantage of existing and freely available datasets to use in their research.
There are plenty of raw datasets out there already which you can tap into and take advantage of the time saved in data creation to work on analysing, collating and reworking existing datasets.
Secondary analysis isn't new, but many corporate or organisational datasets often require payment or a special access agreement, which can take a long time to negotiate. Instead, we will focus on using datasets that can be found free and easy to access from open data repositories, such as the UK Data Archive.
By the end of the session you will:
- Understand the open research environment and the purpose of open data repositories.
- Be aware of different kinds of data repository and be able to search and find relevant datasets within them.
- Navigate repository records, understanding access conditions and documentation.
- Considered making your own research data available in a data repository.
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Research data one-to-one support
Every Thursday at 4 to 5pm during term time
Come meet the team of experts on research ethics, data management, data protection, and copyright — no question is too silly (and no planning is too early!).
This is not a workshop or a taught session — but a chance to bring any questions you wish to discuss. Because everyone will be seen individually in order to provide personalised advice, you may be asked to wait for a few minutes until someone is available to speak with you.
Email us or book a one to one research data support session.
CIVICA open science workshops
LSE is part of the CIVICA alliance of European universities.
You can access previous online training and workshops from across the CIVICA alliance at the Zenodo community page.
Contact us to arrange a bespoke session
If you’d like us to arrange training on something not covered on this page, or a bespoke session for your department or research centre, just get in touch by email: