Type of event: News

Frontiers in Open Research Colloquium: We are delighted to announce the launch of the interdisciplinary colloquium led by Sabina Leonelli. Beginning on Thursday, 24 April 2025, the weekly hybrid seminar (Thursdays, 14:00–16:00 CET) will feature critical discussions on Open Research, research cultures, and systemic challenges, focusing on life sciences, data science, and AI. Each session includes expert talks and insights from recent research. Location: Augustenstrasse 40 (3rd-floor seminar room) and via Zoom.

The Res Philosophica 2025 Conference “Pragmatism and Scientific Inquiry”, to be held in St Louis on April 25-26, 2025, will provide an opportunity for Leonelli to trace and compare the intellectual origins and legacies of Popperian and Bergsonian approaches to the Open Society, and point to their implications for contemporary views on Open Science.

At the International Conference on “Responsible AI” hosted by the Munich Centre for Responsible AI Technologies, held on April 8-10 2025, Sabina Leonelli delivered a keynote on “AI for Democratic Societies” tackling questions of inequity and discrimination in relation to research development, the spread of misinformation and more broadly the imagination of AI underpinning specific ways of using computational technology for science (distinguishing between ‘convenient’ approaches to AI and the different framing provided by Environmental Intelligence).

The 10th seminar of the PCI webinar series, titled “When Open Publishing Is Not Fair,” is now available for those interested in understanding the challenges of inequity in Open Science. Originally held on 20 March 2025, the webinar featured Sabina Leonelli, who explored how Open Access can unintentionally reinforce inequalities, particularly through publishing costs, access to research infrastructure, and disparities in digital skills. This insightful session provides valuable perspectives on making Open Science more inclusive. Watch it now via the following link: https://youtu.be/Bsxggp6o6kc?si=s_VGtMlyOv8L1kVR.

Sabina is giving a keynote at the German Society for Philosophy of Science’s (GWP) three-yearly conference, in Erlangen on 24‐26 March 2025.

Paola Castaño explores how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) is transforming space biology through open data practices in her newly published report: Expanding the Space Biology Community: NASA Open Science Data Repository’s Analysis Working Groups – Survey Report. Conducted as part of the PHIL_OS project, the study examines how data processing and sharing at OSDR support scientific collaboration. This study aims to shed light on how open science practices are transforming space biology and the relationship between the repository’s goals of maximizing discovery and democratizing access.

Nathanael Sheehan and Sabina Leonelli have recently published an article, “Reconciling data actionability and accountability in global health research: The case of SARS-CoV-2,” in the Global Public Health Journal. The study investigates the perceived trade-off between actionability and accountability in data infrastructures, focusing on genomic data sharing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Through a comparative analysis of two data-sharing infrastructures, the authors argue that actionable data must drive knowledge development and remain accountable to contributors and users. The findings challenge the notion that easy accessibility is essential for data actionability, highlighting the critical role of responsiveness and open communication.

Insightful article on Diversity and Open Science. Mark Huskisson, co-chair of the OPERAS Research Infrastructure, has published a thought-provoking article exploring the intersection of diversity and Open Science. The piece draws on Sabina Leonelli’s philosophical insights, linking them to current international developments in Open Science and scholarly communication. It’s a compelling read for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of academic collaboration. Check it out here: Reflections from The Munin Conference Part Two – Open Science. Stay tuned for more updates on the recent Munin Conference!

Paola Castaño and Sabina Leonelli, in collaboration with Louise Bezuidenhout, Ismael Rafols, and Andrea Vargiu, argue for the critical role of case studies as evidence for shaping open science policies. Their work, Case studies are vital to monitoring the development of open science, highlights how case studies provide rich, contextual insights that can enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of open science frameworks.

Fotis Tsiroukis and Sabina Leonelli have recently published the ELGO-DIMITRA Data Management Practices & Requirements: A Scoping Report, which explores the current state of data practices in agricultural science as implemented by the Greek Agricultural Organization ELGO-DIMITRA, a pivotal national governmental body. This publication complements a previous study on data practices in Ghana: Data Management at the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ghana: A Scoping Report. Both reports provide valuable insights into agricultural data management across diverse contexts, underscoring the importance of tailored approaches to data governance and the role of national organizations in shaping global agricultural research.