To build a global consensus on Open Science, the development of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science relies on an inclusive, transparent and consultative process involving all countries and all stakeholders, including Member States, the scientific community as a whole, the key scientific international and national institutions and entities, other relevant United Nations agencies; citizens and traditional knowledge holders.
As of December 2019, UNESCO held a series of online and face to face consultations to support an open debate on Open Science awareness, understanding and policy development to feed into the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.
Global Consultation on Open Science
In view of including inputs from all regions and all actors into the Recommendation, an electronic consultation on Open Science, in the form of an online survey, was conducted between February and July 2020. Open to all, the survey collected information from a broad range of interested contributors, individuals and institutions from across the world. The questions centred around the meaning and definition of Open Science, the practices of Open Science, the institutions and policies dealing with Open Science, as well as the possible negative impacts and barriers to Open Science. In March 2020, the survey was enriched to address Open Science in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From February to July 2020, 2900 participants, including international and regional entities, and numerous open science actors, from 133 countries provided inputs to this global consultation.
Report on UNESCO’s global online consultation on open science
Regional consultations
The regional multistakeholder consultations were organized to take stock of the different regional perspectives.
The objectives of these online regional consultations were to:
- Bring together the scientists, policy makers and the main stakeholders of Open Science in the different regions
- Advance the discussion from the regional perspective on the meaning, scope and opportunities of Open Science between policy makers, experts from academia, private sector and citizens
- Identify the key aspects of Open Science that are most relevant in the global context and should be addressed by the UNESCO Recommendation
- Share lessons learned from development and implementation of the regional Open Science strategies, policies and other initiatives.
- Identify the key challenges and necessary infrastructures for Open Science with suggestions on how to overcome them.
- Identify areas for international collaboration and networking to advance Open Science globally
Key inputs derived from the regional consultation inform the overall UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.
Calendar for Regional Consultations
- 12 December 2019
UNESCO-AU Consultation on Open Science, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - 23 July 2020
Consultation for Western European and North American States
More information - 24 August 2020
Consultation for Arab States - 15 September 2020
Consultation for Asian and Pacific States - 23 September 2020
Consultation for Latin-American and Caribbean States
More information - 24 September 2020
Consultation for Eastern European States - 21 September 2020
Roundtable Discussion on Open Science in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean - 15 December 2020
Online regional consultation for Africa on the first draft of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
Thematic and stakeholder discussions
- 25 February 2020
Consultation on open science in Africa, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 11 May 2020
Webinar on COVID-19 and Open Science in Islamabad - 25 June 2020
Consultation with the Global Young Academy - 15 January 2021
Online Consultation for Indigenous People on the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
News | Report - 23 April 2021
Towards a Global Consensus on Open Science - Online Expert Meeting on Open Science and Intellectual Property Rights
News | Report - 6-7 and 10-12 May 2021
Intergovernmental special committee meeting related to the draft UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
Resources:
- Preliminary study of the technical, financial and legal aspects of the desirability of a UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
- Consolidated Roadmap for a Possible UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
- UNESCO Open Access
- 2017 Recommendation on Science and Scientific Research
- 2019 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Educational Resources (page 170)