Reflecting on an Open Science Culture

On the occasion of the “International Open Access Week 2024”, Chemnitz University Library invites for discussion at the end of October – for the first time, the “Open Access Award” will be accorded in different categories

Equal opportunities for everyone regarding the access to an open science: Institutions around the globe make use of the annual „International Open Access Week“ (OAW) to promote Open Access and additionally an open science culture (Open Science) as indispensable part of science and research by events and activities. In this context, the University Library (UL) of Chemnitz University of Technology invites for several events from October 21 to 27. Among them a workshop, a virtual fun riddle and a hands-on activity are being offered at the dining hall Reichenhainer Straße.

The theme of the OAW of 2023 “Community over Commercialization” is determined as focus point again this year due to its urgency. The reason why: Authors, funding organizations, research institutions and service providers like libraries world-wide are reconsidering their ways of transformation to Open Access selected. Which Open Access-business models are really serving at science? Thus, the Open Science Team of the UL would like to discuss its thesis that “All research results should be open to public. Change my mind!” at its booth at dining hall Reichenhainer Straße on October 23 between noon and 2 pm.  

On October 24, the University Library invites to panel discussion at Weinhold-building from 12:30 pm on. The focus is put on the question “Is this the future or just rip-off? Open Access Publishing at Elsevier, Wiley and Springer vs. MDPI and Frontiers”. An input is given i.a. by Prof. Dr. Arved C. Hübler, Head of the Institute for Print and Media Technology. He says: “The publication market counts among the last pillars for good science, it serves for selection – in Open Access as well.” The panel is also joined by Prof. Dr. Robert Kretschmar, holder of the professorship of Inorganic Chemistry. He thinks; “The great challenge of the present peer- review-system is that profits of the publishers are financed by tax money and this in three ways: Scientists elaborate and format the articles, other scientists are reviewing them and last but not least one pays in the one or the other manner. Although, there are alternatives like Diamond Open Access.” To the panel participants counts also Prof. Dr. Olfa Kanoun, holder of the Professorship of Measuring and Sensor Technologies. She may report, jointly with her PhD-students, from nice and less nice experiences with entire Open Access Publishers as well as the traditional publishing system. Persons interested are asked for prior registration for the panel discussion.

The highlight of this year is the according of the “Open Access Award” in different categories. In acknowledgement of their efforts for enhancing Open Access at Chemnitz University of Technology, awards are accorded to some scientists resp. representatives of the different ways of publication: Open Access Gold, Open Access Green, Diamond Open Access and Open Access Monographs.  

Background: Ways of Open Access-publishing

Politics and science are promoting the transformation from Closed Access to the free availability of knowledge. Funding organizations support projects for the establishment of appropriate sustainable infrastructures. Publishers offer different Open Access options. Academic institutions and consortia re-allocate publications costs from subscription to the financing of individual publications. Although authors as well as users do not have to pay for publishing of and access to scientific results, all Open Access ways are not possible without the investment of resources. During the last decades, no way of publication could be determined as royal road on the national as well as on the international level. Also the further enhancement of Diamond Open Access requires intensive reflection on sustainability or potential dependencies.

Schedule of the „Open Access Week 2024“ at Chemnitz University of Technology: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/ub/openscience/veranstaltung/oaweek_2024.html

Contact to the Open-Science-Team of Chemnitz University Library offering also individual specific consultations: Ute Blumtritt, phone +49 (0)371 531-31290, email oa@bibliothek.tu-chemnitz.de

(Translation: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht)

Mario Steinebach
09.10.2024

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