Public hearing offered space for discussion and reflection on current practice

On Friday, 12 September, a public hearing titled “Making Sense of Open Science?” was held at the main building of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. The event created space for an open discussion on the principles and practice of Open Science (OS), with the goal of exploring how the Czech Republic might effectively implement OS principles. The conversation also touched on topics such as scientific integrity, the trustworthiness of science, digitalisation, and the international context.

Following the opening remarks by Martin Kalbáč (J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry) and Ondřej Prášil (Czech Academy of Sciences), the first panel discussion titled “The Czech Way?” brought together representatives from the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Czech Science Foundation (GA ČR), EOSC, and Charles University. The discussion made clear that the current state of OS implementation is not only highly dynamic but also, in many ways, controversial—and at times even polarising.

Participants were later invited to try out practical tools such as electronic lab notebooks, the Data Stewardship Wizard, and a catalogue of data management tools. They could also take part in discussions on science communication with the public or join an interactive game focused on academic ethics.

The afternoon session explored how global, European, and national experiences and strategies surrounding Open Science can be interconnected. Highlights included a second international panel discussion, a talk by Hugh Shanahan (Royal Holloway, University of London) on the critical role and vulnerability of research infrastructures, and a presentation by Tereza Stöckelová, who framed OS not only as an academic but also a broader societal issue. The event concluded with a forward-looking vision for the future, as Marek Cebecauer (J. Heyrovský Institute) reflected on Open Science in the era of robotics and AI.

You can currently watch the full (unedited) recording of the event here.

The online discussion forum remains open until 15 October here. Share your thoughts on Open Science in your own words.
Vote on proposals for improving the implementation of Open Science principles.

The public hearing was organized as part of the OP JAK AMULET project, under the auspices of the President and the Scientific Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the Open Science Department – Library of the CAS and the Centre for the Support of Open Science at Charles University.