Highlights of Open Access Week 2024
‘Everyone has a role in this. It’s a collective and community responsibility for us to do something about.’
Dr Danny Kingsley, Director, Library Services (Information)
This year’s Open Access Week program drew attention to the challenges and celebrated the achievements of the Deakin community in the open access movement. With more than 300 registrations across a schedule of virtual and in-person events, the program delivered a series of thought-provoking, entertaining and inspiring presentations and discussions.
If you missed out on attending or want to refresh your memory on any of the content, read on for a summary of each of the events. You can also view the webinar recordings on the Deakin Library YouTube channel.
Open Access Week Keynote
Dr Danny Kingsley, an internationally recognised champion for open access and Deakin Library’s Director, Library Services (Information), launched Open Access Week 2024 with an insightful and incendiary keynote address, ‘How have we ended up here? The case for Open Science’. Dr Kingsley embarked on an investigation of the evolution of open access, exploring how the ideals of the movement have been diverted over time by the competing interests of the publishing industry.
Dr Kingsley’s address highlighted the interconnected nature of the research landscape, pointing out how existing systems and structures – such as academic promotion, university rankings and the monopolistic nature of the publishing industry – encourage decisions that perpetuate the current state of affairs around open access, rather than challenging it.
Illustrating how this perpetuation of the status quo hinders progress in the open access sphere, Dr Kingsley also drew attention to the way it is damaging the reputation of scientific research by shifting the focus to the competitive world of publication metrics and university rankings, undermining the integrity of the research process.
‘We need to fundamentally change the way we approach the entire research ecosystem.’
Dr Danny Kingsley, Director, Library Services (Information)
Despite this bleak outlook, Dr Kingsley used it as a rallying cry for action, emphasising that while all stakeholders – except perhaps publishers – agree on the benefits of open access, true progress cannot be made without addressing the underlying systems and structures that often unknowingly undermine open access principles.
Dr Kingsley concluded by outlining the steps individuals can take to improve the reach and impact of open access, reminding the audience that collective action is key, and meaningful change is only possible if we present a united front around what is (and is not) acceptable in the research and publishing world.
Open Access Week Panel Discussion
The second event in the Open Access Week program was an insightful panel discussion, bringing together academics who are actively shaping the open access landscape across a broad spectrum of initiatives.
The panel:
- Professor Jeanette Fyffe, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Researcher Development Academy
- Professor Sally McArthur, Director, Institute for Frontier Materials
- Associate Professor Kathryn Aston-Mourney in Human Biology
- Dr Carly Sawatzki, Senior Lecturer in Education, Maths Education
Chaired by Dr Danny Kingsley, the panellists considered why open scholarship should be prioritised, how open scholarship serves the best interests of the public and academic community, as well as what needs to change to address significant issues in the current landscape of scholarly publishing.
There was a shared consensus that the systems and infrastructure within academia must evolve to support the open access movement, with every individual having a part to play in driving that change forward.
‘All of us can take a moment and take a stand in whatever it is we’re doing, when we’re engaging in publishing, citing, reading and sharing.’
Professor Jeanette Fyffe (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Researcher Development Academy)
The discussion touched on how the decision of where to publish research can sometimes lead researchers to lose sight of the core purpose of research dissemination – sharing their work with the widest possible audience. Instead, it often becomes more about personal politics and career ambitions.
Professor McArthur and Professor Fyffe urged the audience to take action in whatever way they can to stop supporting the current academic infrastructures. They highlighted that individuals have numerous ways to use their agency in support of open access, whether it’s by reading, sharing or prioritising the citation of open access articles, making more considered choices about where to publish, or supporting peer review for open access journals.
‘Publish less, disseminate more.’
Professor Sally McArthur (Director, Institute for Frontier Materials)
‘Be the sand in the machine.’
Professor Jeanette Fyffe (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Researcher Development Academy)
The panellists concluded by emphasising that every decision we make should align with our own ethical stance on publishing and advancing the scientific record, and the key question to ask ourselves is: What can I do?
The Great Copyright Debate
A provocative question – ‘What if there was no copyright in scholarly works?’ – sparked an engaging and entertaining display of wit, creative metaphors and well-utilised props at the Great Copyright Debate.
The audience was treated to a lively and dynamic discussion as the opposing teams explored what might happen if the conventional concepts of rights ownership were disrupted.
Representing the affirmative team, arguing for a world without copyright were:
- Clare O’Hanlon, Client Experience Librarian
- Allan Jones, General Manager, Software Engineering, A²I² – Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Dr Toija Cinque, Associate Professor, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Representing the negative team, arguing to maintain a world with copyright were:
- Brad Adams, Scholarly Services Librarian
- Astrid Bovell, Manager, Copyright
- Lauren Bevilacqua, Associate Lecturer, School of Communication and Creative Arts
The affirmative team argued that copyright serves as a tool of capitalism and colonialism, and offered a utopian vision of a future where scientific progress could thrive without the constraints of copyright.
In contrast, the negative team made a heartfelt case for why creators should retain control over their work, emphasising the importance of copyright in ensuring quality and safeguarding intellectual property. They argued that abolishing copyright isn’t the best solution for achieving open access, and that the capitalist publishing system is better resolved by authors taking action and fighting for their rights.
In the end, the debate was won by the affirmative team, with both sides acknowledging that the status quo leaves many opportunities for improvement.
Beyond OER: Open Education practices
The final session explored the concept of open practice and its influence on equity in education for students and the community. This session also celebrated the launch of Communication Concepts, a recently published Open Education Resource (OER) developed in collaboration with students as an example of open education in practice.
Chaired by Angie Williamson, Open Education Librarian, the panel consisted of:
- Dr Danni Hamilton, Senior Lecturer, Learning Futures
- Dr Rebecca Muir, Coordinator Disability Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Dr Erin Hawley, Senior Lecturer, School of Communication and Creative Arts, and lead author of Communication Concepts
Panel members examined the multifaceted nature of open practice and how it can serve to connect and unite academics, students and the community in a more equitable and socially just model for education.
‘Open practice is about building communities and bringing people together.’
Danni Hamilton, Senior Lecturer, Learning Futures
Dr Hawley discussed the positive outcomes of working together with Master of Communication students to develop the OER text Communication Concepts, and the way that student contributions allowed for the examination of a concept that is difficult to explore from a singular point of view. Reflecting on the process, Dr Hawley noted how collaborating and codesigning through open practice enriched the educational journey by embedding diverse representations, authentic stories and lived experiences, and offering a renewable assessment piece.
‘The lived experience of open practice is not just the production of an output, it is also every single day in the classroom.’
Erin Hawley, Senior Lecturer, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Bringing Open Access Week 2024 to a close, the session highlighted the transformative potential of open practice in fostering equity through meaningful learning experiences that reflect diverse perspectives, while simultaneously contributing to the open access movement.