Public Hearing “Making Sense of Open Science”

On Friday, 12 September 2025, a public hearing titled “Making Sense of Open Science” will take place in Prague. The full-day event, held under the auspices of the Scientific Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences and organized within the OP JAK AMULET project, will focus on Open Science—one of the key pillars of current European science policy and beyond. The hearing will explore pressing topics such as data management, publishing regimes, and public engagement in science. The program will feature panel discussions, interactive workshops, and the presentation of findings from a recent sociological study. The event is intended for academics, policymakers, representatives of major Czech scientific institutions, and interested members of the public.

In addition to mapping the current state and future directions of Open Science, discussions will examine its relationship to scientific trustworthiness, institutional resilience, and the use of emerging digital technologies. Special attention will be paid to how Open Science principles intersect with scientific integrity and ethics. “For example, open data demonstrate that researchers are playing by the rules,” says Patrik Španěl, member of the Academic Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

International speakers at the panel discussions will include Louise Bezuidenhout (Leiden University), Reese Richardson (The Collection of Open Science Integrity Guides project), and others. Czech contributors will include, for example, Patrik Španěl (Academic Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences) and Dagmar Hanzlíková (Centre for Support of Open Science, Charles University). Topics will address the Czech approach to implementing Open Science principles—such as open access, FAIR data, and the broader accessibility of science to the public.

“The public hearing will also feature findings from a sociological study conducted as part of the OP JAK AMULET project, exploring the experiences of the Czech research community with Open Science, including the challenges and opportunities it brings to their everyday research practice,” explains sociologist and study co-author Tereza Stöckelová.

Workshops for the scientific community (in English) will include Electronic Lab Notebooks: Marek Cebecauer, Eguia Marquez Graciela, and Gonzalez Navarro Jose Alfredo (J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, CAS), Open-Source Data Stewardship Wizard Platform: Kryštof Komanec (DSW) and Science Communication with the Public: Květoslava Stejskalová (J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, CAS). The parallel Czech-language program will feature Dilemma – An interactive discussion game on academic ethics and integrity, led by Irena Kozmanová (Masaryk University, Charles University).

"The meeting will conclude with the presentation of the outcomes from a deliberative online forum on selected issues related to the implementation of Open Science principles in the Czech Republic,” says Michal Trčka, the event coordinator.

The public hearing will take place on Friday, 12 September 2025, from 9 AM to 6 PM at the main building of the Czech Academy of Sciences on Národní třída in Prague. Refreshments will be available for all participants.

Up-to-date information about the public hearing is available here.

Please register by 31 August 2025 at the latest. Media representatives may apply for accreditation to attend the event by contacting michal.trcka@jh-inst.cas.cz. Participation is free of charge.

Project OP JAK AMULET (Advanced MUltiscaLe materials for key Enabling Technologies). Coordinated by the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i., Dolejškova 2155/3, 182 00 Prague 8.
Under the auspices of the Scientific Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
In cooperation with the Open Science Department – Library of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i., and the Centre for Support of Open Science, Charles University.
Contact | Mgr. Michal Trčka, Ph.D. | michal.trcka@jh-inst.cas.cz | +420 775 112 135