Inclusion in open science: Moving beyond participant diversity

Slides and materials of the workshop "Inclusion in open science: Moving beyond participant diversity", organized as part of the Netherlands National Open Science Festival on August 31st, 2023 at Erasmus University Rotterdam

Abstract: With open science practices becoming increasingly popular across disciplines, now is the time to critically examine how open science can be truly open and inclusive to all. Thus far, discussions around diversity in open science have mostly centered around the need for more diversity of participants, i.e., ensuring research includes more representative samples (Syed & Kathawalla, 2021). However, two other diversity considerations that are also crucial to understanding openness in science have received less consideration: diversity among scientists (social inclusion), and diversity in the perspectives represented in our research (epistemic inclusion; Fehr, 2011; Syed & Kathawalla, 2021). In fact, ‘openness’ is a concept with many different meanings and the ways it can be applied to practices in science depends heavily on the context in which research is performed. Overall, we believe open science reforms have the potential to make science far more inclusive. However, without consideration of the structural (economic, cultural, and political) barriers that exclude people from engaging with science (social exclusion) and that devalue work that critiques disciplinary norms (epistemic exclusion), we are concerned that existing reforms will not reach their stated potential of making science more credible, accessible, and open (Dominik et al., 2022; Pownall et al., 2020; Settles et al., 2020). This interactive workshop therefore aims to stimulate attendees to consider whether current open science practices and discourses promote inclusion and diversity. The workshop is peer-led by an international and interdisciplinary team of early- and mid-career researchers from two faculties of Erasmus University Rotterdam (Philosophy and Social and Behavioural Sciences). Workshop attendees will be encouraged to engage in group discussion and reflection on their current practices, experiences, and underlying assumptions through a series of theoretically grounded questions and tools, such as the roadmap to reimagining open science by Ledgerwood et al. (2022). Together, we will find ways, as researchers, teachers and citizens, to stimulate more open and inclusive science. As far as we can tell, previous editions of the Open Science Festival have not included workshops/sessions dedicated to exploring diversity and inclusion in open science. This workshop is an important addition to this year’s agenda, by questioning hidden assumptions of ‘openness’, providing space for reflection, and encouraging attendees to co-create a vision on how open science can theoretically and practically evolve. Everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of scientific discipline, career stage, or experience with open science. All that we ask is that attendees are willing to critically examine their own practices and assumptions, and we will provide a safe environment to do so.