Open Science

Definition

Open Science is a research reform movement advocating for transparent, collaborative, and accessible scholarly research and practice across all scholarly disciplines and communities. It is part of the broader Open movement, which promotes openness as a societal norm through principles like inclusivity, equity, and shared knowledge creation. Rooted in practices such as open access, open data, and open methodology, Open Science seeks to democratize knowledge by removing barriers to participation, mobilization, public access to and reuse of research outputs.

Terminology

Similar to it usage in Citizen Science the term "science" is not meant to be discipline-specific, limited to "the Sciences" or even research that involves or is based in academic institutions. The word "science" in English refers to a broader definition of knowledge that can be proved rather than a specific faculty or discipline.

Synonyms

Other terms that denote open science include Open Scholarship (often seen as the most inclusive term, but established mostly in some North-American contexts), Open Research (critisized as exclusive, and rooted in colonial history), and community-based participatory research.

Background

Open Science as Part of the Open Movement

Open science integrates with the overarching movement for a more open society. Together with related initiatives and concepts like Citizen Science, Open Education, Open Data, Open Source, and Open Government, open science forms an ecosystem that views knowledge as a public good. As a whole, the Open Movement aims to transform how we produce, share, and use knowledge.

Components of the Open Science Ecosystem

Open Access

• Open Access Publishing (OA)

• Open Peer Review
• Open Licensing

Open Education

• Open Educational Resources (OERs)

United Nations, UNESCO & Open Science

UNESCO Recommendations

Open Science (2023)

The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science was released in 2021. It serves as a multi-level framework to shape both Open Science practice and Open Science policy. It outlines common standards and definitions around Open Science, as well as the values and principles that inform them.

It further manifests the universal human right to participate in and benefit from scientific progress, that is established through several human rights charters, and identifies open scientific practices as a means to put that right into practice.

Open Educational Resources (2019)

• https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/recommendation-open-educational-resources-oer

Science and Scientific Researchers (2017)

• https://www.unesco.org/en/recommendation-science

Open Science & the UN SDGs

In its Recommendation on Open Science, UNESCO recognizes Open Science as "a critical accelerator for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals."

See also: Knowledge Democracy

Open Science & Universal Human Rights

In its Recommendation on Open Science, UNESCO explains why Open Science is a tool to realize science as a Universal Human Right:

By promoting science that is more accessible, inclusive and transparent, open science furthers the right of everyone to share in scientific advancement and its benefits as stated in Article 27.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Kula & Open Science

Kula Terminology

Kula will use the term Open Scholarship.

Subpages

Vincent Larivière

Open Science Stakeholders

Christian Schmidt (talk)