UNESCO launches a global consultation to develop a standard-setting instrument on Open Science

In the context of pressing planetary and socio-economic challenges, sustainable and innovative solutions must be supported by an efficient, transparent and vibrant scientific effort – not only stemming from the scientific community but from the whole society. Open Science embodies the need to transform and democratize the entire scientific process to ensure that science truly drives and enables the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for the benefits of all.

Driven by unprecedented advances in our digital world, the transition to Open Science allows scientific information, data and outputs to be more widely accessible (Open Access) and more reliably harnessed (Open Data) with the active engagement of all relevant stakeholders (Open to Society). However, in the fragmented scientific and policy environment, a global understanding of the meaning, opportunities and challenges of Open Science is still missing.

UNESCO, as the United Nations Agency with a mandate for Science, is the legitimate global organization enabled to build a coherent vision of Open Science and a shared set of overarching principles and shared values. That is why, at the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference, 193 Member States tasked the Organization with the development of an international standard-setting instrument on Open Science in the form of a UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.

UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science will be prepared through a regionally balanced, multistakeholder, inclusive and transparent consultation process.  This process is guided by an Open Science Advisory Committee and is expected to lead to the adoption of the Recommendation by UNESCO Member States in 2021.

As UNESCO launches its consultation process on Open Science, an online survey is designed to conduct inputs from all the regions and the interested stakeholders, about aspects, benefits and challenges of Open Science across the globe.

All Open Science stakeholders, including scientists and scientific institutes, science publishers, science policymakers etc., are encouraged to participate and to share their insights through a global survey. In addition, you can help the collection of a broader perspective on Open Science by sharing this survey among your network.

The questionnaire is also available for download. It can be filled offline and sent to UNESCO by email at openscience@unesco.org (link sends e-mail).