AOGS2025

Panel Discussion Date/Time / Room

Revealing the unknown: the importance of null results in advancing science

This special session will delve into the critical yet often overlooked role of publishing null results (also known as negative results or inconclusive findings).

Springer Nature believes that all validated research is important, worthy of being published, and has a place and role to play in the scientific and research literature. Publishing null results can:

prevent the duplication of unnecessary research which wastes researcher time and funding
inspire new hypotheses or methodologies
increase transparency and reproducibility in research

However, it has previously been reported that the proportion of null results being published is in decline for a myriad of reasons.* There can be a stigma attached to sharing null results, it may be unclear to researchers how and where to publish them, or they may lack the time or motivation to do so.

By fostering a culture that values inclusive publishing and all research findings, we can advance the integrity and reliability of research, ultimately enhancing scientific progress.

In late 2024, Springer Nature conducted the largest global survey of over 11,000 researchers to gauge perceptions, experiences and behaviours regarding the sharing of null results. This session will kick off by setting the scene with key insights from the survey, leading into a dynamic discussion among our panellists.

We will cover a range of topics, including the perceptions of null results across disciplines, their impact on research and career progression, and the risks of unshared data. Moreover, we will challenge the notion that positive results are the sole indicators of research progress.

This panel will provide a platform for diverse stakeholders to share perspectives and propose actionable strategies for journals and publishers to encourage the submission and dissemination of null results.

Host Panelist
Ritu Dhand, Chief Scientific Officer, Springer Nature

Ritu Dhand was appointed Chief Scientific Officer, Springer Nature in January 2022. In this role, she is responsible for championing and driving editorial excellence across the Springer Nature Journals Portfolio. She is committed to promoting open and inclusive publishing values and ensuring trust in research publishing.

The role builds upon a foundation in publishing as Vice President Nature Journals, where she oversaw the editorial strategy and management of Nature, Nature Communications, and the Nature Research and Review Journals.

Her scientific career has spanned across research and publishing, with first-hand experience as a cancer editor on Nature before being promoted to the position of Nature, Chief Biological Sciences Editor, overseeing all the research published and managing the life Sciences team for 13 years. Prior to that, she spent over 10 years in cancer research, completing her PhD at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and University College London, London and her postdoctoral studies at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto.

Panel Discussion Date/Time / Room

Revealing the unknown: the importance of null results in advancing science

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Name:	Mr Boon Hwang NG, Data Protection Officer/Associate (HR & Corporate Development)
Email:	dataprotection@meetmatt.net
Postal Address:	#06-23 ONE COMMONWEALTH, 1 Commonwealth Lane, Singapore 149544
Telephone Number:	+65 6472 3108

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8.	Transfer of your Personal Data We will not transfer your Personal Data to a country or territory outside Singapore except in accordance with the requirements prescribed under the PDPA.
9.	Governing Law This Privacy Policy shall be governed in all respects by this Act and the laws of Singapore.