This week, we explore the 2024 State of Open Data Special Report and the new OASPA recommendations for increasing equity in OA publishing. We also learn about The BMJ’s new patient and public reviewer remuneration policy. We read an article exploring the importance of case studies for open science monitoring and consider how the role of metadata expands beyond discoverability. Finally, we reflect on three sessions from the 58th EMWA Autumn Conference.
To engage with:
The State of Open Data 2024 via Digital Science
The 2024 State of Open Data report is here! Now in its 9th year, this special edition goes beyond understanding researcher attitudes towards open data to explore “what they [researchers] were actually doing”. The report concludes by making four recommendations to bridge gaps between policy and practice in open data sharing: 1, offer incentives to drive change; 2, address the disparities that limit change; 3, provide practical support beyond policy; and 4, sustain efforts to respond to the challenges in diverse research areas. Want to learn more about the report? Access the raw survey data on Figshare, watch this video explainer, or register for the Bridging policy and practice in data sharing webinar on Thursday 23 January 2025.
To read:
Reducing financial and workflow barriers to equitable OA publishing via Zenodo | 30-minute read
Earlier this year, the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) released draft recommendations for increasing equity in open access (OA). Following a community consultation, OASPA has now released its full recommendations in a report titled (In)equity in open access: OASPA’s recommended practices on financial and workflow barriers. This report offers practical suggestions and real-life examples to support publishers, funders, authors and readers in reducing barriers to equitable OA publishing. More information about the development of these recommendations can be found in this article.
The BMJ remunerates patient and public reviewers via BMJ | 4-minute read
From January 2025, The BMJ will remunerate patients and members of the public who complete a manuscript review. Patient and public reviewers will be offered £50 or a 12-month online subscription to one of the BMJ journals, in addition to the 12-month subscription to The BMJ they already receive on completion of a review. The patient and public reviewer remuneration scheme compliments the BMJ’s wider Patient and Public Partnership strategy. More information, including the rationale behind the scheme, can be found in this editorial.
Monitoring open science practices using case studies via LSE Blogs | 6-minute read
“Case studies can identify key process and pathways to impact,” say Louise Bezuidenhout (Senior Researcher at The Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University), Paola Castaño (Research Fellow at the University of Exeter), Sabina Leonelli (Professor at the Technical University of Munich), Ismael Rafols (Senior Research at CWTS Leiden University) and Andrea Vargiu (Professor and Director of the Foist Laboratory for Social Policies and Training Processes at the University of Sassari). In this article, the authors argue that open science monitoring requires a case-based approach and propose a template that allows researchers to document their open science practices and challenges.
Metadata and scholarly integrity via Crossref | 18-minute read
Metadata plays a crucial role in supporting complete, accurate, and timely research integrations and interactions. Considered the backbone of discoverability, metadata is increasingly seen as a linchpin in the wider communication of knowledge that should evolve following publication rather than be considered a one-time destination. This article explores the perspectives of creators, curators, custodians and consumers to underscore the importance of high-quality metadata in achieving discoverability and operational efficiency across research publications.
EMWA Autumn Conference meeting reports via The Publication Plan | 21-minute read
The 58th European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) Autumn Conference took place from 6 to 25 November 2024. These summaries from The Publication Plan provide an overview of three virtual conference sessions for those who were unable to attend the conference: Updates on best practices for conducting and publishing real-world evidence studies; The essentials of medical translation: foundations and best practices & key translation topics; and, Publisher perspectives on AI: empowering medical writers for the future
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