Open Data

In the world of academic research, the dissemination of knowledge and collaboration among scholars are fundamental drivers of progress. While traditional peer-reviewed journals have been the traditional method for sharing research findings, they often entail lengthy publication timelines and restricted access. In contrast, the preprint servers are instrumental in advancing scientific communication and rapid dissemination of research findings. However, they also come with concerns related to quality, credibility, and ethical considerations.

When we consider research, our minds often gravitate towards conventional research publications, and it's undeniable that there are countless accredited research articles spanning every conceivable field of study worldwide. As it is said that "tradition is the illusion of permanence", this idea of conventional research publications is so deeply rooted in our minds, that we almost never wander towards those pieces of research works that are published unconventionally yet are equally impactful.

FEAST (Food systems that support transitions to hEalthy And Sustainable dieTs), a 5-year Horizon Europe project, aims to transform European food systems from the current 'Lose-Lose-Lose-Win' model, benefiting only big food corporations at the expense of the environment, health, and public sector, into a 'Win-Win-Win-Win' model. This shift would bring gains for people, the planet, the public sector, and the private sector. To achieve this, FEAST employs a multi-actor approach, crucial for empowering all food system players with the necessary knowledge.

The past few years have seen major changes in the way researchers access, publish, and share research. Open access publications have surpassed subscription-only publications; funders and governments increasingly adopt open access and data sharing mandates; and there is a drive among the community at large to make all research outputs as open as possible.   

In the EU Framework programme for Research & Innovation Horizon 2020, open science was almost reduced to open access. Although Horizon Europe is a continuation of its predecessor programme, it integrates a more complete approach of the open science concept.

Emerging evidence suggests that greenspace, whether used for recreation or physical activity (i.e. ‘green exercise’), can improve mental health and wellbeing. Indeed, individuals who use greenspaces or engage in green exercise have less mental distress, less anxiety and depression and healthier cortisol levels.  GreenspaceHack aims to facilitate better design of greenspaces to promote health by providing robust evidence on which characteristics of greenspace citizens value most and which contribute to promoting healthier urban environments at individual and local levels.

EU rules and legislations influence and affect open science at EU and national levels.

Research and internal market are “shared competences” of the European Union. Within these two fields, the European Union is able to determine a common Open Science framework, and to influence national policies as well.

openSenseMap is a platform for open sensor data started in 2015 at the GI@School lab at the Institute for Geoinformatics in Münster. As part of the senseBox the project aims at educating pupils and citizens. It offers a platform for them to not merely share their environment sensor data but also to be able to view, download, and research worldwide data from other participants.

People from around the world publish the data they captured to answer various research questions as a citizen science project

Research data should “flow” unhindered and loss-free along the life cycle of research projects. “FAIR Data Principles” formulate principles that must be fulfilled when dealing with sustainably reusable research data:

According to the FAIR principles guiding the Open Data sharing in H2020 projects since 2016, data should be “Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable”.

The question therefore arises: How “FAIR” is research data in Europe today?

The FOSTER and FOSTER+ projects focused on promoting the practical implementation of Open Science, with activities targeting academic staff, young scientists and policy-makers in particular. Partners from disciplines in the life sciences, social sciences and humanities tailored training content to the practices of each domain. Outcome-oriented workshops were organized, providing participants with tangible skills, such as selecting relevant repositories, understanding how to license research data, and negotiating EU data protection laws.