What is Open Science?
Open science is a movement that supports the open access publishing model by advocating for scientific research to be freely available online. This accessibility is especially important, since science benefits human livelihood.
In this article, we’ll look at the origins and principles of open science, how the model is supported by our Reprints, and how its future might look.
The origins of open science
The origins of open science can be traced back to the 17th century, a time of significant change.
During this period in history, science was starting to advance at a faster pace. Indeed, The Scientific Revolution redefined humankind’s relationship to the world. For example, Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica (1687) described how objects moved in space over time, changing science forever.
Newton was part of The Royal Society, founded in 1660 to bring together the leading scientific minds of the day. The creation of such a society, along with technological advancements in printing, led to the advent of the academic journal during this period. Consequently, the need for scientific information to be disseminated effectively and shared with others within the public sphere was more pressing than ever.
Fast-forward over 350 years, and this need is still present today. But how do we strive to meet it? That’s where open science comes in.
What is open science?
Open science is a movement that aims to make scientific knowledge accessible to all. It facilitates free access to research publications as well as data, methods, educational resources, and all elements of a research process.
The advent of the internet towards the end of the 20th century was key in establishing the concept of open science. The internet facilitated access to information from around the world. This increased accessibility and immediacy led to a growing consensus within scientific circles that important research and data should be made available online to researchers and the public.
The principles of open science
This brings us to the principles of open science. According to the Centre for Open Science, the three main principles of the model are:
- Transparency
- Sharing
- Inclusivity
Let’s take a closer look at these principles.
Transparency
Transparency means making research visible. Methods can include hosting research publications and data on public online databases.
Sharing
Sharing relates to making research accessible and usable. This is where Creative Commons licenses come into play. A Creative Commons license enables others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the original material so long as attribution is given. Crucially, this facilitates the access and dissemination of beneficial material within the public domain.
Inclusivity
Inclusivity means involving and crediting more contributors to research. This entails broadening participation and promoting a more equitable and diverse research landscape. This may include ensuring that all contributors to a study are credited, no matter how small their role. Additionally, researchers from underrepresented backgrounds should be encouraged to participate.
Now we know the principles of open science, how do certain forms of publications benefit this model?
How Reprints help advance the knowledge base for open science
Reprints are a unique product offered by MDPI Books. They are a key type of publication in the dissemination of peer-reviewed, free-to-access scientific research.
A Reprint is a reproduction of a journal article or collection of articles. As a result, Reprints allow important scientific research to reach a broader audience. This includes researchers, students, and professionals who may have missed the original publication.
In this way, Reprints help advance the knowledge base for open science by ensuring that important research remains relevant and in dialogue with existing knowledge bases. Furthermore, this creates a healthy research ecosystem where knowledge is consistently being improved.
Indeed, such an ecosystem helps solve real-world problems. Some of our most popular Reprint subject fields are focused on the most pressing issues of today. From Engineering to Earth & Environmental Sciences, Reprints help advance the science that works to solve these issues and effect measurable change.
Open science has been proven to have positive impacts in certain areas such as the climate and environment, social engagement with science and within communities, and policy and governance. Despite this, there’s still a long way to go in improving the model’s potential.
The future of open science in scholarly communication
One of the greatest barriers to open science is the lack of awareness surrounding the model. More must be done to make researchers aware of practices and how they can share their research and data.
Of course, to make researchers aware of these practices won’t be enough. There has to be incentivisation. We must implement more policies that recognize, reward, or require open science practices. Indeed, these policies are key in reforming research culture.
In addition to incentivisation, there needs to be a greater focus on facilitating collaboration and community among scientists. Reprints are a great example of beneficial collaboration, bringing together researchers from various disciplines.
Indeed, this interdisciplinary approach not only strengthens the sense of community between scientists; it also helps researchers see other unique perspectives that may inform their own future research. Open science must continue to foster opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and build a more diverse and inclusive scientific enterprise in the process.
Want to read some of the latest research advancing the knowledge base for science? Check out our free-to-access Reprints. Still unfamiliar with what a Reprint is? See our dedicated section for this type of publication over on our Blog.
