Strengthening Research Together

Hi Niamh and Marc, thank you for taking our questions. Open science is a key focus for us and we’d love to hear your insights. Could you walk us through the main goals of CIVICA’s Open Science initiative?

Niamh Tumelty: In CIVICA Research, important groundwork was completed to support open research activities across CIVICA institutions. We plan to build on this work by building Open Science Communities across CIVICA, continuing to provide training and development opportunities for research, ensuring that the needs of social sciences are properly considered in policy making and raising the profile of our researchers.

Marc Martinez: The objectives of the ‘Open Science’ initiative within CIVICA are twofold. Firstly, we will continue and expand the effort spearheaded by the CIVICA Research programme, to disseminate open science practices and communities. Secondly, we will foster the links between academic, support staff and libraries to promote scientific openness among CIVICA institutions. 

Which benefits can researchers expect from participating in ‘Open Science’ communities?

Niamh Tumelty: Open Science Communities bring researchers and research support staff together to share experiences around open research practices. They provide opportunities for collaboration and networking, while also enabling development of policies and services that are designed to meet the needs of social science researchers, as opposed to bringing in ways of working that were primarily designed for other disciplines. They enable improvements in research culture by providing a forum to discuss current challenges and propose solutions. They will also give researchers positive ways to expand the reach of their work, leading to greater impact overall.

Marc Martinez: Researchers, through direct engagement with the librarians and academic support staff, will have a better and clearer idea on how to get help in opening their research results and publications and the benefits they can harvest from open science practices.

Besides this, they can expect enhanced visibility for their work, access to diverse expertise and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. The communities will facilitate knowledge exchange, helping researchers stay updated on best practices and trends in open science, which can improve the quality and reach of their research.

How will the CIVICA Open Science coordinating committee support the diverse needs of researchers across different disciplines? 

Marc Martinez: Each CIVICA institution is called upon to nominate three members to populate the committee: at least one researcher and members of the professional services staff, coming from a variety of disciplines within the wider social sciences scientific field are represented. Besides, each community will be built or supported (for those that already exist) on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs and priorities of each participating institution, thus ensuring they are locally relevant.

Niamh Tumelty: The coordinating committee will provide a space for sharing what has been happening at the different institutions, discussing challenges that may arise and generate solutions to these challenges. The group will be well positioned to identify areas where the needs of open social science may differ from those of other disciplines and develop statements that will help funders and policy makers to develop approaches that are more inclusive of these needs in future. 

How will the creation of Open Science Communities enhance collaboration between CIVICA institutions?

Niamh Tumelty: We expect that conversations at coordinating committee will identify institutions that are at similar places within their open research journeys and identify areas where closer collaboration would be beneficial, for example by identifying joint projects to improve research impact, develop supportive institutional policies or increase the skills of staff supporting areas such as research data management and scholarly publishing.

Marc Martinez: The creation of Open Science Communities within CIVICA enhances collaboration between institutions by fostering an environment where researchers can easily share ideas, methodologies, and findings. These communities serve as platforms for joint projects and initiatives, breaking down silos and promoting a more integrated approach to research across the alliance. The Open science coordinating committee will also ensure seamless cooperation, thus reinforcing the bonds the alliance creates.

How is CIVICA helping to break down barriers to collaboration between libraries, researchers and professional staff across the alliance?

Niamh Tumelty: Open Science is a complicated landscape that cannot only be addressed by researchers and professional services colleagues working together. The Open Science Communities and coordinating group are therefore designed to facilitate this collaboration.

Marc Martinez: CIVICA is actively working to break down barriers to collaboration between libraries, researchers, and professional staff by creating shared resources and integrated platforms that streamline communication and access to information. By facilitating joint initiatives and providing support services that cater to the needs of all stakeholders in each participant institution, CIVICA enhances the collaborative ecosystem.

Thank you, Niamh and Marc, for sharing such valuable insights into CIVICA's Open Science initiative. As our communities are built, we can look forward to new developments that will bring our institutions closer together and strengthen research across the alliance.