Open Science Hardware for realising more equitable research collaborations

Talk given at the Big Team Science Conference held virtually from October 23-25, 2023.

Abstract

Physical hardware underpins research in many disciplines. From computing devices, scientific instrumentation, biological reagents, to remote sensing satellites, researchers rely on hardware to explore and understand the world.

However, research equipment is typically based on closed source (i.e. proprietary) hardware, whose designs are legally restricted, preventing others from studying, building, or modifying them. These restrictions cause several problems such as: lack of reproducibility; duplication of effort; forced obsolescence; and higher costs. Crucially, the inefficiencies of closed source hardware reinforce global inequities. This is because the design and manufacturing of research equipment is often monopolised by producers in the Global North.

Open science hardware (OScH) is an emerging field of practice which studies and applies the principles of open source hardware to research contexts. Open science hardware provides many benefits compared to its proprietary counterparts. This can include cost savings of up to 87% and proportional to how often it is replicated; quicker iteration of designs; and adaptation to local needs in underserved communities.

Since the 2010s, open science hardware has been developed and used in diverse domains, from environmental monitoring, lab automation, microscopy, to big team collaborations such as the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

In this talk, we will provide an overview of OScH and the problems it solves. We will share successful examples of open science hardware projects that not only do good science but also address global inequities. The talk will also present the Gathering for Open Science Hardware, an international network working towards the adoption of open source hardware across research lifecycle.

CRediT contributor roles

• Brianna Johns - Conceptualization; Visualization; Writing (original draft); Writing (review & editing)
• Pen-Yuan Hsing - Conceptualization; Resources; Writing (review & editing)