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Open Science Online Course

Pillars of open science

The eight pillars of open science

The European Commission has identified eight pillars that promote open science:

  1. FAIR Data
  2. Research Integrity
  3. Next Generation Metrics
  4. Future of Scholarly Communication
  5. Citizen Science
  6. Education and Skills
  7. Rewards and Incentives
  8. European Open Science Cloud (EOSC)

The FAIR principles mean that data produced by researchers are:

  • Findable – by the academic community and general public;
  • Accessible – via persistent identifiers, metadata, and clear language understandable to persons and machines;
  • Interoperable – via the application of standards and protocols that allow data to be exchanged without loss of information;
  • Reusable – thus maximizing their potential in research.

Research Integrity refers to the principle that research should adhere to commonly agreed standards of honesty, respect, transparency, and accountability. 

The foundation of Next Generation Metrics recognizes the ongoing cultural shift regarding the utilization of bibliometric measures in evaluating research quality. This goes beyond counting citations and considering impact factors. Utilizing suitable metrics from various sources that portray different aspects can be beneficial in understanding and describing the impact and significance of a study. For further information, see San Francisco Declaration of Research Assessment (DORA).

The Future of Scholarly Communication aims to shift academic publishing comprehensively towards Open Access. This is a particularly complex issue, as the paths to reach full accessibility of research are not simple or straightforward.

Citizen Science refers to the interaction between researchers and the public and the larger role played by members of the public in research projects these days. It recognizes the invaluable contribution of the public in providing new research insights.

The Education and Skills pillar addresses the need for training in the continuously transforming field of scientific communication. Researchers should have access to training to support their skills regarding Open Science practices.

The pillar of Rewards and Incentives in Open Science involves the acknowledgment of Open Science practices by academics and policymakers to encourage widespread sharing and adoption of best practices.

European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) connects existing infrastructures and services in Europe with the aim of fostering large-scale collaboration between researchers in different countries and across various research domains. For further information, see the EOSC website.

Sources:

University of Alberta (2024) The Eight Pillars of Open Science. Available at https://guides.library.ualberta.ca/open-science/pillars (Accessed: 25 Sept 2024)

University College London (no date) 8 Pillars of Open Science. Available at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/open-science-research-support/open-science/8-pillars-open-science (Accessed: 25 Sept 2024)