What is Open Science?

Open Science (OS) refers to the idea that scientific knowledge should be openly accessible to everyone as a means for accelerating research. This term suggests that science should always be transparent, rigorous, reproducible, replicable and inclusive.

The current publication crisis has led to the best-known aspect of OS, Open Access (OA), which points to the unrestricted access to scientific articles, particularly those funded by public resources. Likewise, Open Data (OD) refers to making all research data freely available and readily accessible to use by others. The FAIR principles propose that OD should always be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. Furthermore, Open Peer Review (OPR) involves alternative reviewing mechanism of scholar work, in which the peer-review process is made fully open after the publication process.

Another pillar of OS relates to the well-known reproducibility crisis facing many areas of research. Transparency of research workflows seeks to push for better, reproducible and replicable science. One way to achieve this is through the preregistration of a research plan. During preregistration, a time-stamped document is generated and can be publicly shared at any point. This allows the readers to asses any changes made throughout the development of the project and clearly distinguishes confirmatory from exploratory research. Similarly, registered reports allow scientists to submit their work to an initial round of peer review, previous to data collection, shifting the focus onto the research question rather than the interpretation of the results.

Open Science at the MPG

At the Max Planck Society (MPG) there are many efforts in place to push the barriers of OS. The MPG signed the 2003 Berlin Declaration on Open Access, committing to encourage their researchers to publish their work according to the principles of OA, and to develop new ways to evaluate OA contributions, maintaining high standards of quality assurance. Furthermore, in 2021, the MPG signed the G6 statement on Open Science, stating their goal to reach 100% of OA publications, and emphasizing the importance of Open Software.

Several MPG dependencies engage themselves with OS. The Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) for example, actively participates in the negotiations of Projekt DEAL, an initiative that enables German institutions to openly publish and access research publications. Thanks to them, the MPG now counts with unique open access agreements with some of the largest science publishers, from which all MPG members can greatly benefit. The MPDL also organizes OS events, develops OS software, and is the point of contact for all MPI’s in OA affairs.

The PhD network of the MPG (PhDnet) is also actively involved in OS policy. Members of the OS workgroup have carried out surveys among early career researchers regarding OS practices, and presented OS strategies to the general administration of the MPG. This workgroup also organizes events and prepares materials disseminated among doctoral researchers. Additionally, several MPIs have formed their own OS workgroups and carry out regular activities promoting OS among their scientific staff.

How engaged is your institute with OS? Do you know how apply open science in research? Do you know who to ask? If you want to find out more, get in contact with your library or get fill our contact form.

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