OLS-8: Empowering Open Science Ambassadors through Education and Leadership

• July 4, 2023

Open science has revolutionized the research landscape, promoting transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration. To further the adoption of open science practices, the Open Science Leadership (OLS) program offers a 16-week training and mentoring initiative, empowering early-stage researchers and young leaders to become advocates and ambassadors for open science in their communities. OLS upskills individuals in open and reproducible research, equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to lead and sustain open science projects. By connecting participants from diverse backgrounds, communities, and identities, the program fosters a collaborative environment where experiences and expertise are shared.

The primary purpose of the OLS-8 program is to provide training for early-stage researchers and young leaders seeking to enhance their open science skills. By the end of the program, participants will emerge as ambassadors for open science practice, training, and education, making a positive impact across multiple countries and scientific communities.

The OLS-8 program draws inspiration from the Mozilla Open Leader program, integrating its successful principles to foster open science ambassadors. The program revolves around three core principles:

1. Sharing Essential Knowledge: Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of open science principles and practices necessary for creating, leading, and sustaining open science projects. Concepts such as openness, open leadership, community interactions, value exchanges, inclusivity, accessibility, and open science practices in resource development and training will be explored and defined.
2. Connecting Diverse Communities: OLS-8 creates an inclusive space where members from different communities, backgrounds, and identities can come together. By sharing their experiences and expertise, participants will build bridges across boundaries, fostering collaboration and collective growth.
3. Empowering Open Science Ambassadors: The program empowers participants to become effective advocates for open science within their respective communities. Through mentorship, training, and practical experience, they will develop the skills necessary to promote open science values, lead open projects, and inspire others to embrace openness and collaboration.

The goals and learning objectives of the OLS-8 program encompass a broad range of essential skills and knowledge. Participants will:

1. Define and describe key open science terms, including openness, open science, open leadership, community interactions, value exchanges, inclusivity, accessibility, and open science practices in resource development and training.
2. Apply open science principles and practices to their projects and communities, effectively incorporating openness into their work and promoting its benefits.
3. Master storytelling techniques to effectively communicate the value and impact of openness in science, collecting and sharing stories that exemplify how openness benefits the communities they serve.
4. Provide original examples of different types of openness in science, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the diverse ways in which open science can be practiced.
5. Design projects with openness in mind from their inception, illustrating the need, vision, and goals of their initiatives, aligning them with open science principles.
6. Embrace and communicate the benefits of open science and strategically apply various open practices to their work, ensuring maximum impact and collaboration.
7. Identify and utilize public resources for sharing research data, adhering to open science principles of transparency and reproducibility.
8. Recognize different types of open access and associated journals, enabling them to make informed decisions about disseminating their research.
9. Build a project repository on GitHub, utilizing best practices to facilitate collaboration and enable open development.
10. Select and apply open licenses appropriately, ensuring that their work remains open and accessible to others.
11. Create and maintain a safe working environment that fosters inclusivity and collaboration, embracing open science values in their leadership approach.
12. Promote the values of open science, empowering others to lead and collaborate in open projects.
13. Foster diversity and inclusivity by involving a broad range of contributors in their work

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