Path to Open Science: A Data Perspective

Abstract:

Science is both a body of knowledge as well as a systematic method of knowing something. Open science is defined as any activity that covers anything about the future of knowledge creation and dissemination. While science has, in some measure, been open since the 1700s, three key drivers are accelerating the movement to make science open and redefining what it means to be open. These three drivers include technology advancements, rapid growth in data volume and variety, and the increasing complexity of scientific investigations. These three factors are not independent but are intertwined, especially data and technology. Data and technology are fundamentally two sides of the same coin. Rapid improvements in technology have impacted instrumentation for observing and collecting data, numerical models for simulations, and the ability to process and analyze the data.

To date, open science efforts have focused on three primary areas. First, making science accessible to the broader community, including the general public. Second, making the research process, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination more efficient for researchers. And finally, as scientific research is shared more openly across various platforms and to different audiences, comprehensively measuring the impact of scientific contributions both to academia and the broader public.

This presentation will provide an overview of the current landscape of open science activities and highlight how data programs can play an essential role in accelerating science’s path to Open science.