An Open Science Framework for SFU
The INN is leading the effort to develop an Open Science Framework for SFU through community consultations and working with open science experts.
The first phase of this project will lead to a set of institutional open science principles and an implementation plan. Over the next year, with funding from the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute, the Open Science Buy-In Project will involve assessing the needs, challenges and benefits of implementing open science at the university.
Community consultations will begin in 2024. If you are a part of SFU’s research and innovation community and want to participate in the community consultations, please sign up for our mailing list for the latest updates.
What is Open Science?
Open Science is the sharing of research data, tools and outputs with the goal of eliminating barriers to scientific information and collaboration
Open science aims to accelerate discovery and innovation, increase the efficiency and quality of science, promote transparency and accountability, and ultimately maximize the impacts of science on society. Open science practices include sharing scientific resources (e.g., data, software, protocols, hardware and equipment), sharing intellectual property, as well as providing open access to scientific publications.
Why Open Science for SFU?
Adopting Open Science practices will directly support SFU’s key strategic priorities of discovery, knowledge mobilization and innovation
Open science gives researchers access to knowledge and data that can help their own programs move forward. It opens new avenues of discovery and can solidify new collaborations. Indeed, during the pandemic, when many labs were shut down, access to open data was the only way to move science forward. The open science philosophy was at the heart of the global response to the pandemic, leading to an unprecedented acceleration giving us new insights into global health inequity and ultimately the discovery and validation of new vaccines.
SFU is already engaged in many open access, open data, and open innovation activities. These include SFU Library's Open Access policy, the SFU Central Open Access Fund for publishing, the SFU Innovates strategy that supports open innovation, and the Public Knowledge Project. Funding agencies are requiring the adoption of open science activities more and more. Open Science activities are converging rapidly with emerging requirements from funding agencies. Formalizing an Open Science Framework and further developing our open science practices will position SFU amongst the leaders of open science in Canada. SFU will be the first university in Canada to explore an Open Science Framework for the whole institution – a reflection of SFU’s progressive spirit that has earned us an international reputation for transdisciplinary research and innovation.
Who is Involved with the Open Science Buy-In Project at SFU?
The project aims to bring together all researchers at SFU, including faculty, staff and trainees. It will also include SFU research leadership, as well as external partners and the broader SFU research community.
The Open Science Buy-In project is led by Brianne Kent, INN Associate Director and Assistant Professor, Psychology, and Kelly Shen, INN Senior Program Manager and Informatics Team Lead. The project is guided by the Open Science Working Group and the institutional open science principles are being drafted by the Open Science Principles Drafting Committee.
We want to acknowledge and thank SFU open science champions, Gwen Bird, Dean of Libraries, Tania Bubela, Dean of Health Sciences, Elicia Maine, Associate Vice President of Knowledge Mobilization and Innovation, and Dugan O’Neil, Vice President, Research and International, for their support on this initiative. They represent SFU's continued commitment to sharing the products of its research and innovation.