Open science can open doors, if you let it

DURING the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, collaboration is not a buzzword but a necessity. From doctors to teachers and researchers to government leaders, individuals and organisations across countries and disciplines have been coming together to solve the crisis. In the world of research, we saw the success of open science with our own eyes as the Covid-19 vaccine was rolled out faster than any in history. This is no coincidence; it is a direct result of different parties collaborating and funnelling the necessary resources to bring us a solution.

The Singapore government actively develops national initiatives to create an environment of academic freedom and openness. Through its international collaboration efforts, research in Singapore achieves a high level of output which further fosters innovation. This year, Singapore ranked 5th out of 500 cities in the 2021 Innovation Cities Index. The statistic is telling of the city's ability to become a global driver of transformative change by adopting open science approaches.

Accessibility lies at the core of open science - a global movement striving for the "unhindered access" to scientific articles, data from public research, and collaborative research enabled by information communication technology tools. Many are quick to dismiss open science as an impossible feat. One of the biggest obstacles to open science is its high publication and distribution costs. Open access publications grant free access to readers, but research authors may bear the brunt of publishing costs themselves, incurring charges as high as US$5,000 per article. Journal subscriptions can also cost as much as US$40,000 for full access to articles. The pay-to-publish and pay-to-read model not only creates barriers, it leaves too much room for predatory behaviour and exploitation.

Knowledge sharing

However, there are concrete measures people can take to unleash the full potential of open science. A free flow of data and ideas is essential for accelerating the pace of critical research. Open science allows all levels of inquiring society, including historically under-represented or excluded groups, to learn the results of academic research without being limited by financial or opportunity constraints. This sharing of knowledge creates greater potential for idea innovation, and ensures a more balanced representation of researchers from different countries, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds (crucial in a scientific sphere that continues to be dominated by certain groups). Researchers, the essential enablers of open science, are encouraged to conduct their research more rigorously and share everything from their methodology and tools used to full data results more openly.

Efforts are already under way to address the significance of open science, with many universities now funding open access publishing. The landmark transformative agreement between Springer Nature and the University of California marked the largest open access agreement in North America, signalling increasing global momentum and support for the open access movement.

I took part in this year's Senior International Leaders Meeting (SILM) hosted by APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities). The meeting honed in on the potential for open science to facilitate global initiatives, with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 being a particular focus of mine. As important stakeholders and participants in open science and collaboration, universities play a key role in advancing the process. During the meeting, I laid out the following recommendations that I believe will bring the concept of open science into fruition, and ignite collaborations between university, industry, and policymakers:

• Facilitate knowledge dissemination: Reduce knowledge gaps by promoting equitable, quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• Facilitate scientific and technological innovation: Call for research collaboration on global challenges and SDGs and share information and infrastructure to support open science practices.
• Promote open, international cooperation: Work in partnership with external entities where companies and researchers are brought together to explore the more rapid translation of scientific discoveries.
• Promote social participation: Engage in advocacy to build societal consensus, inform public policy, and forge a supportive culture.

New normal

In November, the first international standard-setting instrument on open science was put forward at the Unesco General Conference to accelerate the pace towards a more open and sharing science world.

Having already proven its worth in tackling global issues, there is nothing audacious about instituting open science practices; in fact, it should be the new normal for all academics, researchers, and members of the scientific community.

• The writer is director of the Office of Global Engagement and associate professor of Zhejiang University. She is also an APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities) senior international leader.