Tag: Open Science

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Ongoing activities: OSC Consolidator Program

To kick off 2025, OSC Groningen is taking part in the OSC Consolidator Program, with other OSCs across the Netherlands. Outside of the usual tasks of working behind the scenes to promote Open Science in Groningen and planning workshops/activitites, this program provides a nice opportunity to discuss with fellow OSCs on the opportunities and lessons learned in managing an OSC.

What is the OSC Consolidator Program?

The OSC Consolitador Program is aimed to upskill and advance existing Open Science Communities. Since the inception of OSCs, there have been many ups and downs until now. With COVID-19 impacting how communities developed and external factors (i.e. community members leaving) which have provided both opportunities and uncertainties on how OSCs are being managed currently. For OSCG, we transitoned from monthly events to quarterly events, after hearing the feedback of community members.

With the Program, we hope to rekindle the principles of OSCs and how community engagement should be driven moving forward. The first two sessions have been completed and there is a sense of renewed vigor towards enhancing the community, not only per each local OSC but across broader OSC Netherlands.

One of the first tasks we have been assigned is the drafting of a Community Statement. Incorporating input from previous discussions, the current draft of the OSCG’s statement is as follows:

OSCG Statement

The OSCG aims to increase the visibility and accessibility of OS, both within and beyond Groningen and the north of the Netherlands. By providing a platform where everyone can acquire new skills, share their knowledge and articulate their support for the broader dissemination and uptake of Open Science practices. 

This includes the transparency and inclusivity of research practices and mindfulness of different disciplines’ engagement in OS. The community is open to engage academics and students who are curious about Open Science, regardless of experience. 

We strive to disseminate best practices through courses, workshops and quarterly events promoted through the newsletter and different social media platforms.

Share your thoughts!

Does the current statement ring a bell with you? Any thing that you feel is missing?

As it is a working statment, if you have any questions or thoughts, please do not hesitate to reach out and comment!

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Let’s get started with 2025

Happy New Year! We hope you had a nice end of the year and a relaxing time with loved ones.

For those who were not aware, the Open Science Programme (OSP) of the University of Groningen started its second phase (in October 2024). Building on the success of the first phase, this phase has expanded the number of pillars in the OSP (from 5 -> 6). The newly established Community Pillar will build on the work being done by the OSCG and engage with other stakeholders involved in the OSP.

What does that entail?

The activities of OSCG will be expanded to incorporate a broader network and the continued collaboration between other networks in Groningen (i.e. YAG, Interdisciplinary Schools, Graduate Schools). As there are many academics engaged in different aspects of Open Science, the aim of the Community Pillar is to strengthen the red thread that binds each community. With each academic discipline facing different challenges to incorporate Open Science practices, strengthening the support amongst each other presents the opportunity to foster improved knowledge exchange and reduce the need to re-invent the wheel.

What does that mean for the OSCG?

Positive news! Notwithstanding the members who are part of our mailing list (if you are not yet, you can join here), the number of OS practitioners in Groningen is growing. Thus, by being part of the Community Pillar, OSCG’s activities of disseminating the work of OS practitioners and ongoing OS events in Groningen will be shared to a broader audience. In addition to the quarterly events that organized by the OSCG, by being part of the OSP, new opportunities to engage with students and academics to better understand how OS practices are being disseminated are one of the main deliverables for the OSCG.

If you are interested in helping out, do not hesitate to reach out!

Looking to the future

With the Open Science Festival to be organized in Groningen this autumn, what better way to showcase the diverse actiities of OS practitioners through a supportive network of communities in the North. While there is uncertainty regarding funding in academic institutes, it is encouraging to see the University of Groningen continuing its support to actively stimulate and facilitate Open Science principles among our academic community.

If you are interested in learning more about what the Vision and Goals are of the current phase of the OSP, you can check out the link (here)

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