Australian Open Science Network
Purpose
The purpose of the Australian Open Science Network is to:
- provide a forum for exchange of information on Open Science
- advocate for Open Science in Australia
- support coordination of Australia’s response to international initiatives such as:
- the UNESCO Open Science Recommendation and related activities at UNESCO
- the OECD Recommendation on Access to Research Data from Public Funding and related activities at the OECD
- the APEC Open Science statement
- and the G20 Science ministers’ statement of support for open science.
Membership
Network members are representatives of sector-level bodies with a stake in open science, major funders, and government departments or agencies. Current members include the following organisations:
- Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS)
- Australian Citizen Science Association
- Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)
- Australian Government - Department of Education
- Australian Government - Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Industry)
- Australian Government - Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS)
- Australian Research Council (ARC)
- Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) - Co-Convenor
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) - Co-Convenor
- National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA)
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
- Open Access Australasia (OAA, formerly AOASG) - Co-Convenor
- Universities Australia (UA)
The Australian Open Science Network is convened by Jane Angel (CAUL), Ginny Barbour (OAA), Shannon Callaghan (ARDC), Kate Davis / Katya Henry (CAUL) and Keith Russell (ARDC). Administrative and Secretariat support is provided by CAUL, OAA and ARDC.
History
The Australian Open Science Network was formed in late 2022 as the successor to the FAIR Steering Group, following a review of its role and operations conducted by FAIR Steering Group members. Over time, discussions amongst the FAIR Steering Group had shift from a focus on FAIR access to Australia's research outputs to a broader focus on all aspects of open science. The adoption of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science in November 2021 presented a timely opportunity to rearticulate the role and scope of the group for the future.
The Australian Open Science Network met for the first time on 25 August 2022.
Activities
The Australian Open Science Network meets quarterly. Network members collaborate on statements and submissions and the Network presents an annual event series.
Terms of Reference
Download the Terms of Reference.
Further Information
For further information, contact CAUL National Office.
About Open Science
What is Open Science?
The Australian Open Science Network takes as its definition of Open Science that of the UNESCO Open Science Recommendation:
For the purpose of this Recommendation, open science is defined as an inclusive construct that combines various movements and practices aiming to make multilingual scientific knowledge openly available, accessible and reusable for everyone, to increase scientific collaborations and sharing of information for the benefits of science and society, and to open the processes of scientific knowledge creation, evaluation and communication to societal actors beyond the traditional scientific community. It comprises all scientific disciplines and aspects of scholarly practices, including basic and applied sciences, natural and social sciences and the humanities, and it builds on the following key pillars: open scientific knowledge, open science infrastructures, science communication, open engagement of societal actors and open dialogue with other knowledge systems.