What exactly is “Open science”? Though the concept has existed for many hundreds of years, there is no single accepted definition. It is part of the broader principles of openness which state that access should be as unrestricted as possible for all who seek it in the service of advancing science for all humanity. The OECD defines Open science as “...unhindered access to scientific articles, access to data from public research, and collaborative research enabled by ICT tools and incentives.” https://www.oecd.org/science/inno/open-science.htm While support for science dissemination has varied through the centuries, our thirst for knowledge and the desire to share our discoveries has continued unabated.

Open science is often conflated with Open Access (unrestricted access to scholarly and scientific publications, usually journal articles.) but it encompasses every step of the scientific process. In support of AGU’s Mission “To support and inspire a global community of individuals and organizations interested in advancing discovery in Earth and space sciences and its benefit for humanity and the environment.”, this half day session will focus on other aspects of Open science, such as open data, open code, open software and tools, and others, including the FAIR data principles. It will open with an invited keynote and other presentations on how the research community and the public at large benefit from the Open science movement, including educators, students, citizen scientists, and underrepresented communities (in support of AGU’s Strategic Plan and goals to Promote and exemplify an inclusive scientific culture, to Catalyze discovery and solutions to scientific and societal challenges, and to Accelerate the advancement, impact and democratization of Earth and space sciences by co-creating scientific knowledge with communities that use it.)

At the center of this session will be a spotlight on FAIR data (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability), dispelling common myths and rumors around trust of existing data, the value of data created and curated for research, the correct utilization of data, emerging and innovative data tools and technologies, as well as asking hard questions of the FAIR principles, such as how to increase the uptake of FAIR services, and are the FAIR principles making the expected and hoped for impact? This series of presentations support AGU’s Position Statement on Data: Championing Open and Transparent Data. There will also be a brief status report on the developing international Data Citation Community of Practice (the topic of a proposed Town Hall), in support of the Position Statement on Data: Creating Effective Culture Change.

Wrapping up the half day will be presentations (one possibly invited) on the future of Open science, including a discussion of ethics in open data, involving rural, urban, and other underrepresented science populations, and other areas of improvement.

This Union session will have both in-person and remote/online components, including live chat sessions for attendees during any broadcast sessions, pre-recorded talks available for viewing anytime, and post-presentation informal “hangouts” with authors and conveners.