The 6th International Multidisciplinary Conference for Young Researchers (MCYR 2025) took place on 9–10 October 2025 at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, bringing together over 200 early-career scientists from across the world for two days of open dialogue, interdisciplinary exchange, and shared commitment to responsible research. This year’s theme, “Science and Innovation: Advancing the Path to a Sustainable Future,” aligned strongly with the mission of the OSIRIS project, which focuses on strengthening transparency, research integrity, and reproducibility in scientific practice.

Experience MCYR 2025

Rediscover the spirit of MCYR 2025, the energy, creativity, and enthusiasm of young scientists, through the official recap video. It brings together the defining moments of the conference: insights from keynote speakers, highlights from the Storytelling Competition, recognition of the Best Presenters, and the vibrant atmosphere created by participants throughout the two days.

Watch the recap video:

Open Science in Focus: Keynote by OSIRIS Coordinator Dr. Inge Stegeman

A highlight of MCYR 2025 was the keynote lecture delivered by Dr. Inge Stegeman, Coordinator of OSIRIS and researcher at Utrecht Young Academy /UMC Utrecht. Her presentation offered an insightful look into the transformative power of transparency and reproducibility in shaping credible, trustworthy scientific ecosystems.

Dr. Stegeman emphasised that integrity begins not with rules or checklists, but with mindset, curiosity, honesty, care for quality, and the willingness to question one’s own assumptions. She underscored how open science practices accelerate collaboration and elevate the collective strength of the scientific community.

In addition to her keynote, Dr. Stegeman served as Chair of the Poster Session, engaging with more than forty posters spanning agriculture, ecology, climate science, technology, and the social sciences. Her active presence throughout MCYR highlighted OSIRIS’s role as a co-organiser of the conference and reinforced the project’s commitment to fostering a space where early-career researchers can develop responsible, transparent, and reproducible research practices.

A Space for Learning, Dialogue, and Collaboration

Across five scientific sessions, Climate & Sustainability, Technology & Innovation, Plants & Agriculture, Animals & Ecology, and Society & Culture, participants shared innovative findings and debated the global challenges shaping the future of research. The opening session set the tone with opening remarks and a keynote speech from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík Assoc. Prof., Director of the BioResources and Technology Division (BRT), Dean of the  Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ) at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), a partner institution of the OSIRIS consortium and main organisers of the MCYR conference. Followed by the Keynote by OSIRIS Coordinator Dr. Inge Stegeman. During the opening session, Dr. Nils Haneklaus (University for Continuing Education Krems) also delivered a keynote in which he stressed the importance of equitable collaboration and ethical responsibility in science.

Informal networking moments, including the evening barbecue and bonfire, provided an opportunity for young scientists to connect across disciplines and institutions, thereby strengthening the collaborative spirit at the heart of MCYR.

Explore the MCYR 2025 Photobook

The MCYR 2025 interactive Flipbook showcases key moments from the conference, allowing you to flip through its pages and be a part of the moments that brought the MCYR conference to life.

View the MCYR 2025 Photobook:

Celebrating Excellence

MCYR 2025 concluded with an awards ceremony recognising outstanding contributions across both poster and oral sessions. The winners were celebrated for the clarity, depth, and creativity of their work, exemplifying the high standard of scientific excellence that MCYR seeks to foster.

As part of OSIRIS’s contribution to the conference, the MCYR 2025 Storytelling Competition – “Your Research, Your Story” invited participants to reimagine their abstracts as compelling narratives.

In the OSIRIS category, Richard Marfo, from the Department of Information Engineering at the Faculty of Economics and Management, CZU, was recognised for his exceptional submission, “Building Trust in Healthcare: How Expert Systems Can Save Lives.” His narrative compellingly demonstrates how transparency, reproducibility, and responsible data use in healthcare technologies can strengthen trust, support better decision-making, and ultimately save lives. The story brings the OSIRIS mission to life, illustrating why open science and integrity are central to modern scientific practice.

Read his winning story HERE.  

Conference Outputs and Open Resources

In line with OSIRIS’s commitment to openness and the free exchange of knowledge, MCYR 2025 has made its official Book of Abstracts (ISBN) publicly accessible. This publication offers a comprehensive overview of the research presented across all conference sessions and reflects the diversity, creativity, and scientific rigour of this year’s contributors.

Access the MCYR 2025 Book of Abstracts HERE.

By making this resource openly available, MCYR reinforces the principles of transparency and accessibility that OSIRIS actively promotes within the research community.

OSIRIS and MCYR: A Shared Mission for the Future of Science

OSIRIS is proud to have contributed to the organisation of MCYR 2025, supporting a conference that promotes, encourages, and puts into practice the values central to its mission: research integrity, transparency, reproducibility, and the development of responsible early-career scientists. Participation in MCYR strengthens OSIRIS’s efforts to build a culture of openness and foster a generation of researchers equipped to navigate the complex ethical and methodological challenges of modern science.

Join MCYR 2026!

The annual International Multidisciplinary Conference for Young Researchers (MCYR) will once again take place at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ), Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU). MCYR 2026 will be held on 8–9 October 2026 under the theme “Research Innovation to Action: Pathways Toward Resilience in a Risk-Prone World”. OSIRIS looks forward to continuing its collaboration and supporting young researchers as they transform innovative ideas into meaningful scientific impact. Come and join us!

For more information, visit the MCYR conference website HERE.

Stay tuned for updates on other OSIRIS activities! Visit our website to read our blogs and events section and follow us on social media to discover what’s new and how you can get involved!

OSIRIS “Creating Trust in Open Science & Reproducibility through Accessibility and Transparency!”