Visibility of scientists

Openness of scientific information is not a new phenomenon, but is rooted in the very foundations of scientific communication and education. In the past, the exchange of scientific knowledge was limited by available technologies, but with the development of the first journals, and later advanced communication channels, there was a significant increase in the number of published works and the dissemination of research results. During the 20th century, the rapid increase in scientific production led to the fact that journal editorial boards transferred some of the responsibilities to commercial publishers, whose main interest was the realization of profit, rather than the free flow of scientific information.

At the same time, the emphasis on the prestige of certain journals and publishers has created a kind of race in which scientists strive to publish as many papers as possible in highly reputable publications. Such an approach often limits the sharing of knowledge and slows down the progress of science and innovation. The move towards more open science requires a shift away from this logic of competition towards early and transparent sharing of data and research results.

Open science marks a shift from the traditional practice of publishing exclusively in scientific journals to a model in which data, methods, and results are available early in the research process. The key is to shift the emphasis from publishing “as quickly as possible” to sharing “as early as possible.”

The drivers of this trend lie in the development of new technologies, the exponential growth of research data, social expectations that science should focus on current challenges, and the increasing willingness of citizens to engage in research processes. Increased openness, faster and better scientific communication create a flow of knowledge that benefits both researchers and the scientific community, but also society as a whole.

What are the benefits of open science?

• allows greater access to knowledge
• accelerates research progress
• encourages collaboration and interdisciplinary research
• improves research reproducibility
• improves the transparency of the research process
• optimizes resource allocation
• encourages public involvement in science through citizen science
• stimulates innovation by enabling collaboration, knowledge exchange and the development of new ideas and technologies
• contributes to economic growth by facilitating the dissemination of research findings and encouraging the reuse of data and resources.