Open science is about the sharing of research knowledge and transparency in the research process.
Along with major funding councils’ open access policy and data policy, open science is likely to become a major factor in future academic work and in relation to building an academic career. Social media tools have created new opportunities for open science,
which can help to drive innovation, increase transparency and contribute to the public understanding of science. In this talk, drawing on a survey of academics in the UK, we examine attitudes to different aspects of open science.
We found that whilst many academics recognise the value and importance of open science, the use of some of the tools, including open access repositories and data sharing services, was limited. A small group of academics,
who can be termed ‘super users’, were frequently communicating updates of their ongoing research on social media. Given the changes in academic research funding including publishing models,
there are opportunities and incentives for open science to grow, but challenges remain. For many academics open science, including having a public profile, open publishing and almost real time assessment of research,
represents a very different way of being an academic.
Academic life is increasingly competitive and it is important to highlight how research dissemination does not always lead to research impact in terms of contributing to change, but it seems dissemination and impact are linked and open science is a key tool in this process.
Directions:
Due to preparation work for the MBS redevelopment project, access to the Harold Hankins building is no longer possible via the University Precinct Centre.
Please use the main entrance of MBS West (Building Number 29 on the Campus Map) and take the lifts to the left of the main reception desk to the 9th floor.
Turn left (‘access to Harold Hankins’ is signed) and go through the door at the end of the corridor and left through a second door into the stairwell.
Go down a half flight of stairs following the sign ‘access to Harold Hankins’ and through the door into the Harold Hankins building and along the corridor until you get to the main stairwell/lift lobby.
Take the stairs to the tenth floor then turn right to room 10.05.
Alternatively, if you are a member of the University you can email john.ashton-2@manchester.ac.uk for access to Harold Hankins building from the door on Booth Street West.
