PM2019 session: The path to open science

This session covered questions around why we should move towards Open Science, what it still takes to get there and how Open Science awareness can be increased, including practical examples and learnings of what is already being undertaken.

Often when we hear about Open Science, we think about Open Access and FAIR Open Data. And indeed, free sharing of all research data and results is important for the quality and progress in science. But Open Science is so much more said Frank Miedema, vice Rector for Research at Utrecht University and chair of the Utrecht University Open Science Program, in his presentation. He shared his observation that the research agenda does not reflect the needs of society, or in case of health research, disease burden. Science is often about money, it is an expensive business. So, short term strategy and avoiding risks are often a leading principle. Why? Because research careers depend on the assessment of scientific output. Society is largely absent in the current reward system in science.

The key to more research on topics relevant for society is to change the emphasis on biometrics and instead reward the value and impact of all aspects of scientific output. The promise of Open Science lies in the connection with societal stakeholders. Miedema referred to the DORA initiative, initiated by the American Society for Cell Biology and now endorsed by KNAW, Nwo and ZonMw. It is one of the many initiatives in Open Science, both international and national.

Melanie Imming, community manager Open Science at SURF, presented the National Platform Open Science. A platform set up to foster Dutch initiatives promoting Open Science. Important initiatives are focused on professionalizing data Stewardship, more training, career perspectives and better job descriptions for Data Stewards. Imming emphasized that Open Science is not a case of black or white, it is more a case of as open as possible, as closed as necessary. She started as community manager of the first Dutch open science community, with people who really want to start working and taking Open Science into practice.

One excellent example of Open Science put to practice was given by Judith Boer, researcher and data steward at the Monique den Boer Group in the Princess Máxima Center. She showed how the Den Boer research group enables reproducible science using a well structured and transparent way of archiving raw and processed research data in electronic lab books. It is important to remember that Open Science needs continuous attention and stimulation from the whole research group. The group of Professor Monique den Boer is now extending their way of working to other groups at the Princess Maxima Center, so researchers can experience themselves that it actually works.