Open Science is a cultural shift that aims to make research more open and transparent. We put a special focus on it to raise your awareness of one of the most important ongoing discussions in research. The information on this webpage is intended to give you the opportunity to get an idea of the Open Science developments and to reflect on them against the background of your own academic activities. The homepage also serves to bundle the offers for Open Science core fields of action open data, open access and public engagement that are already available on campus and at RUB Research School, and to provide you with contacts.
What exactly is Open Science?
We follow the definition of the FOSTER project, which understands Open Science as initiating a cultural change in the way research is conducted. It follows the principles of participation, fairness, equity and sharing of knowledge. It aims to make research more open to participation, review, accountability and (re)use of research results and processes. Open Science will help organise research so that others can participate and contribute, that research data, methods and processes are freely available, and that research knowledge, including the underlying data and methods, can be reused, redistributed and reproduced.
While most relevant, research-related aspects of Open Science such as Open Access publishing, open data and public engagement are established in most research fields, others such as open peer review or open metrics and impact are still under discussion.
What do I need to know about Open Science with respect to my research?
The following three blocks of questions should help you to reflect on the topic of Open Science against the background of your own research:
Why Open Science?
Open Science?! That means
- faster and free access to scientific knowledge
- better verifiability of research results
- the bundling of resources
- the support of joint initiatives
- increasing trust in science
- interaction with the public
Why is Open Science important for me as an early career researcher?
- Higher visibility for scientists
- Demands by the funding bodies
- Reuse and participation is made possible
- Confidence in research is maintained/established/increased/renewed
Personal Checklist
- Which questions arise for me as a doctoral researcher/postdoc?
- Is Open Access accepted in my field of research?
- What added value do I expect from Open Access etc.?
- Does making data available have a negative impact on my research?
- What possibilities do I have to communicate my research outside the scientific community?
