Now is the time to open up science

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for data-sharing and collaboration in scientific research is of paramount importance. Collaborative global teams can find breakthroughs far more quickly than individual teams can. People also need to have trust in scientists and scientific research, and one way to do this is to make the process open and transparent.

UNESCO sees this too—so it is launching international consultations aimed at developing a Recommendation on Open Science for adoption by member states next year. Its recommendation will include a common definition, shared set of values and proposals for action.

While many Canadian organizations already embrace the idea of Open Science, we believe the country would be well served by a national consensus on some of the key questions that UNESCO’s proposed recommendation will touch upon. We should hear from our scientists, research institutions, government, civil society, patients, students, philanthropic organizations, business, youth and Indigenous Peoples.

To that end, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO has produced a background paper to support national consultations. The goal is to help UNESCO advance Open Science in a way that will benefit all of humanity.

A global conversation

All UNESCO recommendations build principles and norms to influence the development of national laws and practices. The proposal to develop a UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science aims to create a global consensus through an inclusive and transparent process that involves all countries and stakeholders. It builds on the 2017 Recommendation on Science and Scientific Research, the UNESCO Strategy on Open Access to Scientific Information and Research and the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Educational Resources.

Open Science is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Article 27.1 states: “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.” Open Science embraces all forms of science communications, including publications, data and software, as well as access to and use of materials.

Consensus in Canada

The federal and Québec governments and our national research councils and organizations already widely support the idea of an Open Science ecosystem in Canada. In fact, Canada and Québec have enacted several policies and programs supporting Open Science where government and research funding are concerned. And internationally, Canada has committed to the Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation’s Declaration on Access to Research Data from Public Funding (2004) and to the Open Government Declaration (2011). Canada also supports the work of the G7 Working Group on Open Science.

Policy considerations

Our view is that when considering provincial, national or international Open Science policies, Canada and Québec should carefully consider four key issues:

1. Stakeholder engagement:Consultations should engage the broadest possible range of stakeholders, including scientists, research institutions, government, civil society, patients, students, philanthropic organizations, business and youth. Special attention should be also given to Indigenous knowledge.
2. Funding models:Funding models for journals should be robust and sustainable. They should consider the important role of smaller publishing houses and the critical role of peer review and editorial processes in maintaining scientific excellence. Funding models for the development of data and materials systems and procedures should ensure accessibility, compatibility and sustainability.
3. Performance metrics:To engage all stakeholders and measure the impact of policies, we must be able to measure progress as Open Science is implemented. This should be combined with effective communications to ensure the desired outcomes translate into actions.
4. Intellectual property and human rights: Finally, we must carefully consider how Open Science interacts with intellectual property rights—especially where Open Science is needed to promote the “common good” and the science is related to global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss and pandemics.

Want to know more?

Our paper, “Toward a UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science: Canadian Perspectives,” provides an overview of Canada’s position.