“It’s messy and it’s massive”: How has the open science debate developed in the post-COVID era? [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the global adoption of open science (OS) practices. However, as the pandemic subsides, the debate around OS continues to evolve. This study investigates how the pandemic has shaped the OS discourse and identifies key issues and challenges. Interviews were conducted...

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Main Authors: Natascha Chtena, Juan Pablo Alperin, Alice Fleerackers, Andrew Cox, Stephen Pinfield, Pamela Abbott, Melanie T Benson Marshall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2025-08-01
Series:F1000Research
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Online Access:https://f1000research.com/articles/14-500/v2
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author Natascha Chtena
Juan Pablo Alperin
Alice Fleerackers
Andrew Cox
Stephen Pinfield
Pamela Abbott
Melanie T Benson Marshall
author_facet Natascha Chtena
Juan Pablo Alperin
Alice Fleerackers
Andrew Cox
Stephen Pinfield
Pamela Abbott
Melanie T Benson Marshall
author_sort Natascha Chtena
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the global adoption of open science (OS) practices. However, as the pandemic subsides, the debate around OS continues to evolve. This study investigates how the pandemic has shaped the OS discourse and identifies key issues and challenges. Interviews were conducted with influential actors across the research and publishing communities. The findings show that while many areas of debate remained constant, the ways in which they were discussed exposed underlying systemic challenges, which must be addressed if OS is to progress. These issues included the scope and definition of OS; regional variations in its implementation; the relationship between OS and fundamental questions of the purpose and practice of science; and the need to reform incentives and reward structures within research systems. A more complex understanding of OS is required, which takes into account the importance of equity and diversity and the challenges of implementing OS in different cultural and geographical contexts. The study emphasises the importance of shifting scientific culture to prioritise values such as quality, integrity, and openness, and reforming rewards structures to incentivise open practices.
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spelling doaj-art-bc9d6ad5b14c445ba981e92e3646398b2025-08-20T03:22:19ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022025-08-011410.12688/f1000research.162577.2185903“It’s messy and it’s massive”: How has the open science debate developed in the post-COVID era? [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]Natascha Chtena0https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3586-5372Juan Pablo Alperin1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9344-7439Alice Fleerackers2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7182-4061Andrew Cox3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2587-245XStephen Pinfield4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4696-764XPamela Abbott5Melanie T Benson Marshall6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4129-3316Simon Fraser University Publishing Program, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaSimon Fraser University Publishing Program, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaUniversity of Amsterdam Department of Media studies, Amsterdam, North Holland, The NetherlandsThe University of Sheffield Information School, Sheffield, England, UKThe University of Sheffield Information School, Sheffield, England, UKThe University of Sheffield Information School, Sheffield, England, UKThe University of Sheffield Information School, Sheffield, England, UKThe COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the global adoption of open science (OS) practices. However, as the pandemic subsides, the debate around OS continues to evolve. This study investigates how the pandemic has shaped the OS discourse and identifies key issues and challenges. Interviews were conducted with influential actors across the research and publishing communities. The findings show that while many areas of debate remained constant, the ways in which they were discussed exposed underlying systemic challenges, which must be addressed if OS is to progress. These issues included the scope and definition of OS; regional variations in its implementation; the relationship between OS and fundamental questions of the purpose and practice of science; and the need to reform incentives and reward structures within research systems. A more complex understanding of OS is required, which takes into account the importance of equity and diversity and the challenges of implementing OS in different cultural and geographical contexts. The study emphasises the importance of shifting scientific culture to prioritise values such as quality, integrity, and openness, and reforming rewards structures to incentivise open practices.https://f1000research.com/articles/14-500/v2Open science open access preprints COVID-19 science communication scientific cultureeng
spellingShingle Natascha Chtena
Juan Pablo Alperin
Alice Fleerackers
Andrew Cox
Stephen Pinfield
Pamela Abbott
Melanie T Benson Marshall
“It’s messy and it’s massive”: How has the open science debate developed in the post-COVID era? [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
F1000Research
Open science
open access
preprints
COVID-19
science communication
scientific culture
eng
title “It’s messy and it’s massive”: How has the open science debate developed in the post-COVID era? [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_full “It’s messy and it’s massive”: How has the open science debate developed in the post-COVID era? [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_fullStr “It’s messy and it’s massive”: How has the open science debate developed in the post-COVID era? [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_full_unstemmed “It’s messy and it’s massive”: How has the open science debate developed in the post-COVID era? [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_short “It’s messy and it’s massive”: How has the open science debate developed in the post-COVID era? [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
title_sort it s messy and it s massive how has the open science debate developed in the post covid era version 2 peer review 2 approved 1 approved with reservations
topic Open science
open access
preprints
COVID-19
science communication
scientific culture
eng
url https://f1000research.com/articles/14-500/v2
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