A simple idea with big effects

Open science means making research and its outputs — publications, data, methods, software — openly available, transparent, and reusable, as early as is practical. It widens participation and speeds discovery.

Its main pillars

  • Open access to publications;
  • Open and FAIR data;
  • Open methods, software, and reproducibility;
  • Open engagement with society.
Worked example — a global standard
In 2021, UNESCO adopted the Recommendation on Open Science, agreed by its member states — a shared definition and set of values. It frames open science not as a niche choice but as the direction of travel for research worldwide, with particular promise for the Global South.

🔗 Learn more (free): UNESCO — Open Science

Try it
Of the four pillars above, which is already part of how you (or researchers you know) work, and which is missing?

Self-check

In one sentence, what does “open science” mean?

© FRELIP, released under CC BY 4.0. Adapted in part from openly-licensed UNESCO (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO) and institutional research-support materials. Linked resources remain under their own licences. Curated by the FRELIP Open Courseware editorial team.

Última alteração: quinta-feira, 4 de junho de 2026 às 12:52