Research Box - Open Science with Dr Siân Astley

Research Box

Professor Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray are joined by Dr Siân Astley- Secrétaire Générale de EuroFIR AISBL

The group had a wide ranging conversation including:

The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, open science, and disseminating research to a broader audience was emphasised, particularly in the context of biology, medicine, and food research. They discuss the challenges and considerations in engaging with open science, including issues related to data privacy, intellectual property, and the need for balance in protecting contributors while ensuring progress. The conversation also touched on the potential benefits of self-publishing, the use of repositories for sharing research materials, and the importance of clear planning, communication, and understanding in small research projects.

They also discuss the changing landscape of research and development. They highlight that whilst there is now greater accountability and competition, there is still room for "big sky thinking" and creativity. The concept of "open science" was also introduced, defined as making research as open as possible while closing it only when necessary. This approach, which is favoured by the European Commission, was contrasted with traditional publishing models, and Sian mentioned that it has led to new alternatives for organisations, including self-publishing.

They also discuss the concept of fair data, which is meaningless without proper documentation, and the importance of data exchange and interaction between specialties. Thet further touch on the role of citizen science in this context, citing examples of successful collaborations in other fields like Astrophysics and Mathematics. They both acknowledged that the current academic assessment process and concerns around data privacy are hindrances to this open science approach.

They also discuss the challenges of predicting the impact of research proposals, with an emphasis on the role of individuals in contributing to open science.

They highlight the value of due consultation and the potential benefits of using creative commons licenses for a more flexible approach to data sharing agreements.

Finally they touch on the challenges and considerations in small research projects, outlining the need for clear planning, communication, and understanding the terms and conditions of existing research tools. Additionally, they deliberated on research impact, policy engagement, and potential future research directions, such as global competency development in China.

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