REPLAY: REProducible Luminescence Data AnalYses

How can we ensure that scientific results are not just one-time findings, but reliably reproducible? This is precisely the goal of REPLAY – REProducible Luminescence Data AnalYses, a project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and led by Dr. Sebastian Kreutzer (Heidelberg University) and Dr. Thomas Kolb (Justus Liebig University Giessen). Dr. Svenja Riedesel from the University of Cologne also contributes to the project, helping to make scientific analyses more reproducible, transparent, reliable, and accessible.

Luminescence Dating: The Core of Quaternary Research

Luminescence dating provides essential age information for geological and archaeological questions. It generates vast amounts of measurement data that require complex analysis. However, a fragmented software landscape—often with closed-source solutions—currently hampers the transparency and reproducibility of these data.

The Goals of REPLAY

REPLAY builds upon the R-based Luminescence software to develop an open, reproducible, and community-driven platform for luminescence dating. Its central objectives are:

· Establishing an open software framework that facilitates data exchange and traceability of analyses.

· Implementing the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

· Providing a user-friendly, open software suite that enables new analytical approaches and can be applied beyond geochronology.

· Developing interfaces for evaluating raw data and identifying patterns in large datasets.