The first lecture series “Open Science and Research Quality in Theory and Practice” starts on April 12, 2021. It is organized on the basis of Objective 3: Advancing Research Quality and Value of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA) in cooperation with the master’s degree program “Science Studies” offered by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The lecture tackles current questions concerning research quality, open science and how they overlap. National and international guests from research and application fields will discuss topics such as peer review, evaluation practices, accessibility and usability of free research data and results, and the emerging digital infrastructures in innovative and interactive formats.

“I’m very much looking forward to the start of the first lecture series organized under the banner of the BUA,” says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. Sabine Kunst, president of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and spokesperson of the Berlin University Alliance, who will open the lecture series. “The lecture promotes a unique joined-up approach to research quality and open science. It also seeks to discuss, and potentially implement in practice, innovative solutions for improving research quality in scientific institutions.”

Alongside Sabine Kunst, other speakers include Robert-Jan Smits, Director General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission from 2010 to 2018 and president of Eindhoven University of Technology since 2019, Flaminio Squazzoni from the University of Milan as well as Sarah de Rijcke, and Thed van Leeuwen from the University of Leiden. In addition, numerous guests from the national and Berlin research environment have been invited who will engage with event participants in presentations and panel discussions.

At the opening scheduled for Monday, April 12, 2021, Martin Reinhart, professor at the Department of Science Studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and member of Steering Committee 3, will give an overview of the lecture series and place the topic in the broad lines of sociology and scientific policy following a welcoming address by Sabine Kunst. Afterwards, he and other members of the steering committee will discuss with Sabine Kunst, for example, the goals set out by the novel Berlin alliance in terms of scientific policy and the special conditions that the alliance can contribute for implementing measures in order to improve research quality both in its own institutions and beyond. Audience members are invited to ask questions and get involved in discussions with those present.

The lecture is aimed at students of the master's degree program “Science Studies” and is open to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students of all disciplines from the partner institutions. In addition, the event is open to interested parties from the fields of research, teaching, and science management. It takes place every Monday from 2 pm to 4 pm. This is the case except for “Evaluation Practices in Science” (Sarah de Rijcke, University of Leiden), which had to be moved from May 17 to June 10. The event languages are English and German, the corresponding information is given at the respective session. The event takes place in digital format only.

The participation link is available here.

Contact

Dr. Stefan Skupien, Scientific Coordinator Open Science
Email: stefan.skupien@berlin-university-alliance.de 

Nele Albrecht, Scientific Coordinator Research Quality
Email: nele.albrecht@berlin-university-alliance.de