Open Science News

Lancaster University is taking a strategic approach to research impact by leveraging Altmetric Explorer, a powerful tool that tracks the broader influence of academic work beyond traditional citation metrics. As part of the Research Impact User Stories series, this upcoming webinar will provide insights into how the university integrates Altmetric into its research ecosystem to enhance reporting, engagement, and real-world impact.

What to Expect from the Webinar

Attendees will gain valuable insights into:

• Faculty and Departmental Reporting – How Lancaster University uses Altmetric data to support strategic decision-making.
• Driving Research Engagement – Techniques for maximizing the visibility and influence of research beyond academia.
• Impact Case Studies and REF Applications – Real-world examples of how Altmetric Explorer contributes to demonstrating research impact, including potential applications for the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Guest Speaker: Nicola Wylie

Nicola Wylie, Research Intelligence Manager at Lancaster University, will lead the session. Since joining the university in 2020, Nicola has played a key role in developing the Research Intelligence (RI) Service, helping academics understand and demonstrate the global impact of their work. She also serves as the EDI Officer for the LIS-Bibliometrics Committee, further contributing to the advancement of responsible research metrics.

Event Details

📅 Date & Time: April 10, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:40 PM (GMT)
📍 Location: Online Event
🎯 Audience: Academic institutions, researchers, and research managers

This session is an essential opportunity for institutions and researchers looking to strengthen their impact assessment strategies beyond traditional citation-based metrics. Register now to explore how Altmetric can support your research impact goals!

Date & Time: March 27, 2025, 10:00 AM

Africa is at a pivotal moment in its development, facing a range of challenges that span from food insecurity to climate change and geopolitical tensions. According to the United Nations (UN, 2024), while only about 17% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track to be achieved, significant gaps persist, especially in developing and least-developed nations, the majority of which are in Africa. These hurdles have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing effects of climate change, and global political instability. For example, food insecurity remains a major concern, highlighting the difficulty in advancing SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Africa’s Agenda 2063, a strategic framework for inclusive growth and sustainable development, has seen slow progress, with only 37% of targets met as of 2022 (AUDA-NEPAD, 2022). This underscores the need for accelerated implementation of policies and programmes that align with National Development Plans (NDGs), calling for enhanced collaboration among multiple stakeholders.

To address these complex challenges, the role of science, technology, and innovation (STI) has become increasingly critical. Scientific advancements provide a powerful opportunity to tackle transboundary challenges through collective efforts and shared knowledge platforms. Science academies in Africa have a unique mandate to contribute to the continent’s socio-economic development by providing scientific, evidence-based advice to policymakers. These academies play a crucial role in bridging the gap between scientific research and policy implementation, offering insights that can directly influence government decision-making.

While the primary responsibility of national science academies is to provide advice to their governments, many extend their influence by engaging in policy advocacy, both at the national and international levels. This expanded role is especially important as STI diplomacy gains prominence globally, enhancing the capacity of African science academies to participate in shaping global science and policy discussions. By leveraging their membership and networks, these academies create significant platforms to advocate for policies that are grounded in sound scientific evidence.

Science advice, in its various forms, is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It varies depending on the specific context, but its core aim remains the same: to facilitate the interface between science and policy. By providing expert guidance on pressing issues, science academies can help ensure that policy decisions are informed by the latest research, driving more effective and sustainable solutions for the continent’s challenges.

The growing importance of science advice and policy advocacy in Africa underscores the potential for science to catalyze meaningful progress. As African nations continue to confront the impacts of climate change, economic inequality, and public health crises, the integration of scientific evidence into policymaking will be crucial in achieving the SDGs and realizing the vision of a prosperous, sustainable Africa by 2063.

Register here!

The 2025 EUA-CDE Annual Meeting will mark the 20th anniversary of the Salzburg Principles, reflecting on two decades of progress in doctoral education while exploring future challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving academic landscape.

Reflecting on Two Decades of Doctoral Education

Since their inception in 2005, the Salzburg Principles have served as a foundation for doctoral education across Europe, shaping policies and practices that enhance research excellence and academic training. The upcoming three-day conference will examine the principles’ long-term impact and assess how far doctoral education has progressed in line with these guiding tenets.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to hear directly from those involved in the development of the Salzburg Principles and engage in discussions on how to further unlock their potential in the coming years.

Key Themes and Discussions

The 2025 EUA-CDE Annual Meeting will feature a diverse and interactive programme, addressing some of the most pressing issues in doctoral education today. Key topics include:

• Geopolitical Impact on Research – Discussions on knowledge security, dual-use research, and global challenges affecting academia.
• Doctoral Programmes & Competitiveness – Examining the role of doctoral education in boosting Europe’s economic and technological leadership.
• Policy & Institutional Reforms – Insights into changes in institutional autonomy and research assessment and their effects on doctoral training.
• Recent Trends & Achievements – Presentation of a comprehensive study reviewing progress in doctoral education since the introduction of the Salzburg Principles.

Beyond the formal sessions, the meeting will provide ample networking opportunities, fostering dialogue and collaboration among senior academics, doctoral education professionals, postdoctoral researchers, and policymakers.

Pre-Meeting Events & Registration Details

Pre-Meeting Events – 4 June 2025

• 09:00–12:00 – National and regional EUA-CDE member meetings (self-organised; limited room availability).
• 12:30–15:30 – Three pre-meeting workshops (details available in the programme).

Registration Deadlines

• Early registration deadline: 23 April 2025
• Final registration deadline: 21 May 2025

Due to limited capacity, registration will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis, ensuring balanced representation across institutions and countries.

For more details or to express interest in organising a national/regional meeting, contact info@eua-cde.org before 12 May 2025.

Join the largest annual gathering of doctoral education stakeholders in Europe and be part of shaping the future of doctoral training!

The Skills4EOSC project will conclude with its final conference, Building Capacity for Open Science, on June 11, 2025, at the Condorcet Campus in Paris. Co-organized with the French Ministry of Research and other national partners, the event will showcase the project’s achievements in advancing Open Science skills and training across Europe.

Key Themes and Discussions

The conference will focus on:

• Strategic vision for Open Science skills development.
• The role of Competence Centres in supporting research and training.
• Data stewardship and collaborative networks as drivers of Open Science.
• Innovative approaches to upskilling professionals, decision-makers, and researchers.

Agenda Highlights

• Opening Remarks (09:30 – 10:15) – Insights from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the European Commission, and Skills4EOSC representatives.
• Keynote Speech (10:15 – 10:45) – Prof. Pierluigi Sacco on the future of Open Science collaboration.
• Competence Centres in the EOSC Ecosystem (11:00 – 11:15) – The role of training and support in sustaining the EOSC Federation.
• Panel: Upskilling Next-Generation Researchers (11:45 – 12:30) – Experts discuss strategies for Open Science training.
• Empowering EOSC through Data Stewards (12:30 – 12:45) – The impact of skilled data professionals on Open Science.
• Networks Supporting Data Management Excellence (12:45 – 13:00) – Collaborative initiatives for research data management.
• Panel: Upskilling Open Science Stakeholders (14:45 – 15:45) – Perspectives from competence centres, decision-makers, and universities.
• Closing Remarks (15:45 – 16:00) – Future directions for EOSC training and Competence Centres.

This event offers a unique opportunity for researchers, policymakers, and Open Science professionals to engage in discussions, share best practices, and shape the future of Open Science skills development.

The Horizon Europe project Skills4EOSC (Skills for the European Open Science Commons) is organizing an event to explore the role of scientific collections and Open Science competencies in shaping politics, culture, science, and art in Austria. The webinar, scheduled for April 8, 2025 (3:00–4:30 PM CET), invites policymakers, academics, and science professionals to discuss Open Science development and strategy in Austria.

Why Attend?

The event aims to strengthen Austria’s Open Science community by presenting key findings from the Skills4EOSC project, which focuses on building Open Science skills. Participants will gain:

• Access to training materials designed for decision-makers to help them effectively acquire, manage, and analyze Open Science data.
• Insights into the legal and ethical aspects of Open Science in policymaking.
• Discussions on the relevance and sustainability of Open Science, including its role in Austrian universities and research institutions.

Program Highlights

• Welcome & Objectives – Insights from the Natural History Museum Vienna, Skills4EOSC Team, and EOSC Support Office Austria.
• Open Science in the EU – A European perspective on Open Science developments.
• Skills4EOSC Insights – Legal and ethical aspects of Open Science competencies.
• Austria’s Open Science Landscape – Key viewpoints and institutional developments.
• Guided Discussion – Exploring the relevance, benefits, and sustainability of Open Science in Austria.
• Conclusion & Outlook

Event Details

• Date: April 8, 2025
• Time: 3:00–4:30 PM CET
• Format: Webinar (link provided before the event)
• Language: German (Training materials available in English)

This event is open to anyone passionate about advancing Open Science in Austria. Join the discussion and help shape the future of Open Science in research, policymaking, and beyond!

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform scientific research, understanding its impact on national research ecosystems is crucial. To explore this, the ISC Centre for Science Futures has published a key report, Preparing National Research Ecosystems for AI: Strategies and Progress in 2024. This report reviews global AI policies, assesses challenges and opportunities, and includes 18 country-specific case studies that highlight AI’s role in shaping research and innovation.

Join the Webinar on 3 April 2025

To further this discussion, the ISC Centre is hosting a webinar on 3 April 2025, from 14:00 to 15:30 UTC. Experts will share insights from the report, covering:

• The role of universities and research institutions in AI policy development.
• Challenges and opportunities in integrating AI into national research ecosystems.
• The impact of international frameworks on AI applications in science.
• Practical strategies for AI adoption in research.

What to Expect?

The webinar will feature:

• A presentation by the Centre for Science Futures on its Science Systems Futures project.
• Three case studies from experts in diverse research ecosystems.
• An open discussion, encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange.

This event is open to all researchers, policymakers, and professionals interested in AI’s role in shaping the future of science.

🔗 Register here to join the conversation and explore how AI can drive global research forward.

As data privacy concerns continue to grow, the ENCRYPT project is hosting a free online hackathon on Monday, March 31, 2025, from 10:00 to 16:30 CET, aimed at equipping participants with hands-on experience in privacy-preserving technologies (PPTs).

What to Expect?

Participants will engage in:

• Practical workshops on anonymizing datasets and preprocessing for PPTs.
• Insights into GDPR compliance, ethical data sharing, and differential privacy.
• A real-world use case challenge to apply newly learned skills.
• An introduction to ENCRYPT’s advanced PPTs and their real-world applications.

Who Should Attend?

Professionals and researchers from healthcare, finance, insurance, public policy, and any field handling sensitive data will benefit from this hackathon, gaining valuable knowledge on secure data management.

Register Now!

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your expertise in data privacy. Register here: ENCRYPT Hackathon Registration