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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Mark IrelandORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Reproducibility, the extent to which consistent results are obtained when an experiment or study is repeated, sits at thefoundation of science. The aim of this process is to produce robust findings and knowledge, with reproducibility being thescreening tool to benchmark how well we are implementing the scientific method. However, the re-examination of results from many disciplines has caused significant concern as to the reproducibility of published findings. This concern is well-founded – our ability to independently reproduce results build trust both within the scientific community, between scientists and policy makers.Within geoscience, discussions and practical frameworks for reproducibility are in their infancy, particularly in subsurfacegeoscience, an area where there are commonly significant uncertainties related to data (e.g. geographical coverage). Given the vital role of subsurface geoscience as part of sustainable development pathways and in achieving Net Zero, such as for carbon capture storage, mining, and natural hazard assessment, there is likely to be increased scrutiny on the reproducibility of geoscience results. We surveyed 346 earth scientists from a broad section of academia, government, and industry to understand their experience and knowledge of reproducibility in the subsurface. More than 85% of respondents recognised there is a reproducibility problem in subsurface geoscience, with >90% of respondents viewing conceptual biases as having a major impact on the robustness of their findings and overall quality of their work. Access to data, undocumented methodologies, and confidentiality issues (e.g. use of proprietary data and methods) were identified as major barriers to reproducing published results. Overall, the survey results suggest a need for funding bodies, data providers, research groups, and publishers to build a framework and a set of minimum standards for increasing the reproducibility of, and political and public trust in, the results of subsurface studies.
Author(s): Steventon MJ, Jackson CAL, Hall M, Ireland MT, Munafo M, Roberts KJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Earth Science, Systems and Society
Year: 2022
Volume: 2
Online publication date: 14/09/2022
Acceptance date: 20/07/2022
Date deposited: 06/10/2022
ISSN (electronic): 2634-730X
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
URL: https://doi.org/10.3389/esss.2022.10051
DOI: 10.3389/esss.2022.10051
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