Open Science News

A workshop aimed at journal editors and publishers working in open access, whether they are already using the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform or planning to adopt it, will be held on October 30, 2024, at 14:00 CEST.

The session will feature several examples of OJS usage from the region, offering insights into different practices. After brief presentations (delivered in Croatian and Serbian), participants will be invited to engage in discussions and share their experiences. The conversation can be conducted in the language of the participants’ choice.

This workshop provides a valuable opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and best practices among professionals in the open access publishing community.

Register here.

On 22 October 2024, the League of European Research Universities (LERU) will unveil its latest advice paper titled “Communicating with Integrity – Supporting Researchers with Best Practice in Communication.” This paper addresses the importance of integrity in science communication, an essential component of the mission of researchers and research institutions.

Effective communication of research findings is vital for building trust, yet poor communication—whether through lack of transparency, over-hyping results, or failing to convey uncertainty—can undermine this trust. The new advice paper offers guidance for research institutions on how to support their researchers in communicating with integrity. It also provides best practices for researchers to ensure their communications reflect openness, accuracy, and honesty.

The paper will be launched during an online event, featuring a presentation by the paper’s lead author, Dr. Rhys Morgan, Head of Research Policy, Governance, and Integrity at the University of Cambridge. Following the presentation, a panel debate will bring together experts in the field of science communication and research integrity.

Event Programme:

• 11:00: Welcome by Prof. Kurt Deketelaere, LERU Secretary-General
• 11:05: Presentation of the paper by Dr. Rhys Morgan, University of Cambridge
• 11:30: Panel debate featuring:
  • Dr. Helen Jamison, Global Coordinator at the Science Media Centre
  • Mr. Bert Seghers, member of the European Network of Research Integrity Offices (ENRIO)
  • Dr. Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief of Nature
• 12:10: Q&A with the online audience
• 12:25: Conclusions by Prof. Kurt Deketelaere, LERU Secretary-General

This event will provide valuable insights for researchers, media professionals, and institutions dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of communication in science. To participate, registration for the online event is now open.

In celebration of Open Access Week, the Centre for Teaching and Learning’s OEP Program is hosting a special online presentation by Dr. John Willinsky, founder of the Public Knowledge Project, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM (Saskatchewan Time).

Presentation Overview: Dr. Willinsky, who has spent 26 years advancing open access, will reflect on its rationale and importance. Despite the demonstrated value of open access during the pandemic, he questions why its adoption remains slow and costly. He will propose strategies to accelerate the transition to open access as a standard for sharing research and invite participants to join him in this effort.

Event Details:

• Date & Time: October 22, 2024, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm (Saskatchewan Time)
• Location: Online via Zoom (registration required)

Presenter Bio: Dr. Willinsky is a part-time professor at Simon Fraser University and Khosla Family Professor Emeritus at Stanford University. As the founder of the Public Knowledge Project, he developed the world’s most widely used open-source journal publishing platform. He has published several books, with his latest titled Copyright’s Broken Promise: How to Restore the Law’s Ability to Promote the Progress of Science (MIT, 2023).

Registration:
To attend, registration is required. The Zoom link will be provided upon confirmation.

On Monday, October 21, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:30, the Working Groups (AGs) “Impact” and “Participatory Health Research” of the Society for Transdisciplinary and Participatory Research (GTPF) are organizing a discussion event titled “Pitfalls of Demonstrating Impact in Transdisciplinary and Participatory Research.”

The event will feature Simon Denegri, Executive Director of the Academy of Medical Sciences and former Chair of INVOLVE (UK). Denegri will critically explore the diverse impacts of participatory research, raising key questions such as:

“In health and social care research, we are supposedly united by our desire to make a difference. But asking what this difference is, how it is achieved, with whom, and most importantly, for whom, can reveal significant differences in the priorities of research partners. In a culture where ‘He who pays the piper calls the tune,’ what is considered ‘impact’ often reflects the priorities of funders. Can participatory research navigate this debate? And how can citizens and research partners start changing the narrative?”

The event, conducted in English, is open to all interested parties and will take place online. Alongside Denegri’s presentation, there will be ample time for exchange and discussion.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking conversation on the complexities of measuring impact in participatory research.

More info can be found here.

On 10th July 2024, UNESCO launched a global survey as part of its consultation process to gather insights on Diamond Open Access—a key initiative in scholarly publishing aimed at ensuring research is freely accessible to everyone. The consultation, available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, invites contributions from global stakeholders to help shape a collaborative framework for Diamond Open Access.

What is Diamond Open Access? Diamond Open Access refers to a model where scholarly content is published and made available to the public at no cost, with neither subscription fees nor Article Processing Charges (APCs). It promotes inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that researchers, institutions, and readers from all regions, including those underrepresented, have access to knowledge without financial barriers.

Why Participate in the Survey? UNESCO is encouraging researchers, institutions, librarians, and policymakers to take part in the survey. The feedback gathered will be critical in shaping a global framework for Diamond Open Access, aligning efforts to advance open science, equity in knowledge sharing, and global collaboration. The survey is designed to be easy to complete, taking approximately 15 to 25 minutes, and is available in four languages to ensure wide participation.

Next Steps: The Global Summit on Diamond Open Access The survey results will be presented at the 2nd Global Summit on Diamond Open Access, scheduled for December 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. The summit will use these findings to guide further discussions on global strategies for advancing open access in research and may lead to regional consultations.

Data Privacy and Protection UNESCO is committed to protecting the privacy of survey participants. The survey complies with GDPR regulations, ensuring that personal data is handled with the utmost care. Only consolidated findings will be shared, and the identities of individual respondents will be fully protected.

Help shape the future of open access by participating in this important global consultation. Access the survey here.

Be part of the movement for a more open, equitable, and collaborative research environment.

Photo credit: GW

At the G20 Research and Innovation (R&I) Ministers’ meeting, held in Manaus, Brazil, on September 18-19, global leaders gathered to discuss the theme of “Open Innovation for a Just and Sustainable Development.” The meeting culminated in a significant agreement, where ministers endorsed the G20’s open innovation strategy along with recommendations to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in science, technology, and innovation (STI).

One of the key elements of the agreement is the transition to open science, outlined in Recommendation 4, which focusses on fostering a more equitable and collaborative approach to scientific research and knowledge sharing. The recommendation addresses several critical areas:

1. Promoting a common understanding of open science through public participation, community engagement, and dialogue with diverse knowledge systems.
2. Prioritising equitable access and contributions to open science, ensuring all stakeholders benefit from science communication and open access initiatives.
3. Developing supportive policies that cater to national conditions while respecting academic freedom, research ethics, human rights, privacy, and intellectual property protections.
4. Investing in shared and equitable open science infrastructures, enabling reciprocal access to global and major research facilities.
5. Aligning incentives to encourage international collaboration in the context of open science for mutual benefit.
6. Actively implementing and monitoring the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.

This commitment to open science and innovation directly addresses many of the concerns and priorities that the Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) has addressed in recent years. Notably, this includes the encouragement of using native languages in science, as promoted through initiatives like CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment), ensuring that scientific communication is more inclusive and accessible worldwide.

The G20’s adoption of these recommendations is a crucial step towards making science more open, inclusive, and collaborative, benefiting both the global research community and society at large.

G20 agree on open innovation strategy and recommendations for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in science, technology and innovation – European Commission (europa.eu)

The Copim Open Book Futures project, running from 2023 to 2026, is a significant initiative aimed at creating a fully open and bibliodiverse ecosystem for open access (OA) books. Funded by Arcadia and the Research England Development Fund, the project emphasizes values such as trust, transparency, interconnectivity, openness, equity, and bibliodiversity. With 12 publisher and service provider members and 79 supporting libraries, the project has raised over €800,000 to date and plans to award more than €100,000 in small grants by 2026.

Objectives and Support for Diamond Open Access

The project strongly advocates for Diamond open access, which is characterized by its commitment to providing free access to both readers and authors without any associated fees. This model is particularly appealing as it aligns with principles of equity and social justice in scholarly publishing. The Open Book Collective (OBC), part of this initiative, serves as a charity enabling libraries to financially support OA book publishers and service providers. This community-driven approach not only enhances accessibility but also fosters a diverse range of scholarly works.

Innovative Tools and Infrastructure

Key components of the project include the development of an open metadata management platform and new tools designed to improve OA ebook accessibility. Additionally, it aims to establish archiving and preservation networks to ensure the longevity of published works. Notably, the project is also focused on aligning experimental publishing infrastructures with OA workflows, thus promoting innovative practices in scholarly communication.

Community Engagement and Funding Models

The Copim initiative emphasizes collaboration among various stakeholders in the academic community. Contributors from institutions like Coventry University and Loughborough University are involved in discussions about building community-led infrastructures for OA book publishing. The project highlights lessons learned from these experiences, advocating for sustainable funding models that do not rely solely on author fees.

Expanding Access and Bibliodiversity

The initiative’s commitment to bibliodiversity is crucial in ensuring that a wide range of voices and perspectives are represented in academic literature. By supporting experimental scholarship through pilot projects and collaborations with libraries across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, the Copim Open Book Futures project seeks to broaden the scope of accessible knowledge.

Next Steps

The Copim Open Book Futures project represents a transformative step towards a more equitable scholarly publishing landscape. By championing Diamond open access and fostering community engagement, it aims to create an inclusive ecosystem that supports diverse voices in academia. This approach not only enhances access to knowledge but also ensures that scholarly works can be more widely disseminated and preserved for future generations.

Initiatives like this are essential for addressing the inequities present in traditional publishing models. By prioritizing community-driven efforts and innovative funding strategies, we can pave the way for a more inclusive academic environment that values diverse perspectives and equitable access to information.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13694567

Nokia has announced its conformance with OpenChain ISO/IEC 5230:2020, the international standard for open source license compliance management. This certification highlights Nokia’s commitment to managing open source compliance in its supply chain, a practice the company has upheld for decades.

Nokia, a longstanding contributor to open source projects, implemented an open source compliance program as early as 2004. Since 2014, its Open Source Program Office (OSPO) has provided a structured approach to ensuring compliance, helping the company navigate the complexities of open source software use and contribution. Nokia also plays a pivotal role in the open source community, leading the Telco Working Group within the OpenChain community.

Jonne Soininen, Nokia’s Head of Open Source Initiatives, expressed the company’s enthusiasm:
“Nokia’s mature open source processes and tools fit well within the OpenChain requirements. We believe it is important to have industry-wide recognized standards to provide predictability to various parties in the industry and across the supply chain.”

Shane Coughlan, OpenChain General Manager, hailed Nokia’s achievement as a major milestone for the telecommunications sector.
“The adoption of ISO 5230 by Nokia is a significant step forward for the telecommunications supply chain with respect to open source. It demonstrates Nokia’s leadership in managing open source risk and efficiency, while signaling to the broader supply chain how other companies can optimize their approach as well.”

About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in B2B technology innovation, pioneering networks that sense, think, and act across mobile, fixed, and cloud networks. With an emphasis on intellectual property, research, and open architectures, Nokia’s high-performance networks empower service providers, enterprises, and partners to create secure and sustainable digital services.

About the OpenChain Project
The OpenChain Project maintains the ISO/IEC 5230 standard for open source license compliance and ISO/IEC 18974 for open source security assurance. With over 1,000 companies involved, OpenChain aims to streamline and enhance supply chain efficiency across industries.

About The Linux Foundation
The Linux Foundation is a global hub for collaboration on open source software, hardware, and standards, including projects like Linux, Kubernetes, and OpenChain. Through collaboration, the foundation creates sustainable models for the development and adoption of open source technology across sectors. For more information, visit linuxfoundation.org.

More information can be found here.

While Open Access (OA) is making significant strides, institutional policies often focus too heavily on journal articles, leaving long-form publications like books and monographs underrepresented. To address this gap, the European University Association (EUA) and the PALOMERA project (Policy Alignment of Open Access Monographs in the European Research Area) are co-hosting a webinar on September 24, 2024, from 15:00-16:30 CEST. The event will spotlight the importance of including long-form publications in Open Access policies, especially in disciplines where these formats are central.

A Broader Perspective on Open Access

This webinar aims to raise awareness among universities and research institutions about the need for Open Access policies that encompass more than just journal articles. It will focus on Open Access books, including monographs, book chapters, and edited collections, all of which are crucial scholarly outputs in many fields.

The session will explore the diversity of OA policies across universities and research organizations within the European Research Area (ERA). Partners from the PALOMERA project will present findings from their policy mapping research, which examines national approaches to Open Access book policies. Key takeaways will include:

• The benefits of having a dedicated policy for Open Access books.
• Essential elements to consider when developing such a policy.
• The implications of adding books to a university’s existing Open Access policy.
• The need for life-cycle thinking in Open Access and Open Science policy development.

Participants will gain insights into how and why universities and research institutions are developing OA book policies, and how these policies can align more effectively across institutions and countries.

Speakers and Discussion

The webinar will feature prominent experts in the field, including:

• Mikael Lakso, Associate Professor of Information Studies, Tampere University
• Nienke Roelants, Managing Director, Leuven University Press
• Dhara Snowden, Textbook Programme Manager, UCL Press
• Robert Wiese, Berlin Universities Publishing (BerlinUP) and TU Berlin

The session will be moderated by Vinciane Gaillard, Deputy Director for Research & Innovation at EUA.

This event is designed for a broad audience, including university leaders (rectors, vice-rectors, and heads of administration), research department staff, librarians, researchers, and representatives from other organizations. Registration is open until the webinar begins, and participation is free of charge.

A Future-Focused Approach to Scholarly Communication

This webinar is part of EUA’s new series, The Future of Scholarly Communication, which follows the success of the 2021 series on scholarly publishing. As outlined in the EUA Open Science Agenda 2025, scholarly communication is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements and changing practices. The rising volume of publications, coupled with the growing number of Open Access outputs, underscores the need for innovative approaches to knowledge dissemination.

While Open Access is making research more accessible through models like diamond, green, and gold OA, many scholarly outputs—especially books—remain behind paywalls. Expanding Open Access to include long-form publications will ensure broader dissemination of knowledge and foster greater societal engagement with research.

As universities adapt to these changes, they will play a key role in shaping the future of academic communication and knowledge sharing. This webinar offers an opportunity to explore how institutions can lead the way in making all forms of research accessible to everyone.

For more information, visit EUA.