Open Science: the Very Idea

by Frank Miedema

This open access book provides a broad context for the understanding of current problems of science and of the different movements aiming to improve the societal impact of science and research. The author offers insights with regard to ideas, old and new, about science, and their historical origins in philosophy and sociology of science, which is of interest to a broad readership. The book shows that scientifically grounded knowledge is required and helpful in understanding intellectual and political positions in various discussions on the grand challenges of our time and how science makes impact on society. The book reveals why interventions that look good or even obvious, are often met with resistance and are hard to realize in practice. Based on a thorough analysis, as well as personal experiences in aids research, university administration and as a science observer, the author provides - while being totally open regarding science's limitations- a realistic narrative about how research is conducted, and how reliable ‘objective’ knowledge is produced. His idea of science, which draws heavily on American pragmatism, fits in with the global Open Science movement. It is argued that Open Science is a truly and historically unique movement in that it translates the analysis of the problems of science into major institutional actions of system change in order to improve academic culture and the impact of science, engaging all actors in the field of science and academia.

272 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2021

About the author

Frank Miedema is Vice Rector of Research at Utrecht University and Chair of the Utrecht University Open Science Programme. He studied biochemistry at the University of Groningen, specialising in Immunology, with a minor in the Philosophy of Science. From January 2009 to March 2019, he was a dean and vice chairman of the Executive Board of the University Medical Center Utrecht.

Research Focus: Open Science
In 2013, he was one of the initiators of Science in Transition, which states that the academic incentive and reward system is in need of fundamental reform. Besides Science for Science (articles in ‘high-impact’ journals), the impact on society must be valued more and societal stakeholders should be involved more integrally in the production of knowledge.

Areas of interest:
Open Science
Science in Transition
Open Access
Plan S
Open data