How to build up big team science: a practical guide for large-scale collaborations.

Area of Science:

• Scientific collaboration
• Research management
• Team science

Background:

• Big team science (BTS) is a growing trend in research.
• There is a lack of practical guidance for managing BTS initiatives.
• This paper addresses the need for a comprehensive BTS how-to guide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a practical guide for creating, managing, and participating in big team science projects.
• To synthesize insights from diverse BTS initiatives.
• To offer solutions for common challenges in large-scale collaborations.

Main Methods:

• Integration of insights from a multi-disciplinary set of BTS initiatives.
• Development of a how-to guide covering project lifecycle.
• Identification of key considerations and challenges in BTS.

Main Results:

• Provides guidance on initial considerations: team building, leadership, governance, tools, and open science.
• Addresses issues in running projects: study design, ethics, data management, and analysis.
• Offers strategies for BTS-specific challenges: authorship, writing, and decision-making.

Conclusions:

• This guide equips researchers with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of big team science.
• Effective management and participation in BTS can be achieved through structured approaches.
• The paper facilitates the successful execution of large-scale, collaborative research endeavors.