How to become an open science champion

Sebastián Ayala Ruano, a PhD student at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, keenly remembers his first steps in open science. Slowly pouring over guidelines — ‘everything was in English’, he recalls – he couldn’t help noticing how these principles were not commonly applied in his workplace.

Many chemists may face similar challenges, in a field notoriously timid about embracing open practices. For early adopters, the ‘power structures, as a PhD candidate in particular, are often not in your favour’, note Joyce Kao and Heidi Seibold, co-founders of the Digital Research Academy (DRA).

Yet change may be afoot, with theoretical astrochemist Alessandra Candian from the University of Amsterdam listing open-source software Octopus and Psi4, or the PAHdb and Kida databases as encouraging examples. If you’re keen to follow in these footsteps and challenge the status quo, consider the following advice.

Start small

Getting started with open science ‘can be super overwhelming’, acknowledges Seibold, so focus on ‘what’s easy, interesting, and could help you the most.’

Resources, workshops and training abound – check The Turing Way, OLS, Forrt, UKRN, Agape, certain Moocs, and what your institution may already offer. Kao also suggests approaching your PhD programme coordinator, as they can often organise training directly tailored to their cohort’s needs (your supervisor may be able to point you to the right person).

Still, for Ayala Ruano, applying your hard-won knowledge to ‘a real project you care about’ will help the most. Embracing new data management practices or switching from proprietary to open-source software are great entry points; even opting for a digital notebook or tidying up your code and folders can make a difference.

Be kind to yourself, because it’s a learning process

You may find yourself constrained by certain limitations, such as intellectual property agreements. ‘The motto we use here is: “as open as possible, as closed as needed”’, says Candian, so ‘try to do as much as you can’. ‘You don’t need to become the front of the movement’, she stresses: ‘doing what works for you is already helping.’

Adopting certain open practices, such as making code or data public, can initially feel ‘incredibly vulnerable’, recalls Seibold. ‘It’s taking the first step that’s hard’, says Ayala Ruano, describing how he used to find it ‘really intimidating’ to contribute to open-source projects. Don’t expect to master everything immediately, suggests Candian. ‘Be kind to yourself, because it’s a learning process’, she says. ‘It’s a way of doing science that will require a little bit time to get on top [of], but then it will become a second habit.’

Find your people

Everybody’s go-to advice is to join a community. ‘The best way to learn is just to be with others’, stresses Ayala Ruano – and, as Candian points out, ‘it’s also more fun.’ Many of these networks are online – keep an eye on Mastodon and BlueSky – but local workshops and events are also a great way to find like-minded individuals (and friends) closer to home.

Within your institution, research data managers, librarians or computational chemists may be able to share precious information. Yet finding mentors may be as simple as directly reaching out for advice. For example, if you are curious about certain aspects of an open-source software you use, ‘visit the GitHub page and […] create an issue,’ suggests Ayala Ruano. ‘In general, people are really approachable and eager to teach.’

Learn to advocate

One of the main challenges facing open science champions? ‘Other people who don’t understand what you’re trying to do’, Kao answers without hesitation, ‘or who are against it because “that’s just not how things are done”’.

Effective lobbying often entails tailoring your arguments to your interlocutor: some may be sensitive to moral considerations (in Seibold’s words: ‘If I’m paid by the taxpayer, then the taxpayer should have access to my work’), while others may be swayed by concrete benefits. Ayala Ruano, for example, convinced his supervisor to preprint for the first time by highlighting the opportunity to get community feedback before submitting to a journal. Emphasising how your proposed changes align with your institution’s policy on open science, or with funders’ and governmental requirements for research dissemination, may also foster a more productive exchange.

Finally, consider whether senior collaborators could negotiate with powerholders on your behalf. ‘Find your allies’, advises Kao: ‘when there’s more of you, it’s harder for people to say no.’

Explain your working

Even seemingly small actions can spark change around you. In one of his industry roles, Ayala Ruano started casually mentioning how useful he was finding various open tools and approaches; before long, his colleagues were approaching him for advice, and he was asked to give a talk on the topic. Despite tighter restrictions, companies can still benefit from certain open workflows, he notes.

Taking the time to explain the reasoning behind open practices and highlighting their advantages can slowly change minds. Above all, ‘you need to lead by example,’ says Candian, especially if you’re in a position of authority.

Stepping into mentoring shoes may feel a little daunting at first. You may find yourself coaching individuals who are older and more senior, leaving you to wonder whether your voice will be heard – or with ‘a bit of impostor syndrome’, as Ayala Ruano puts it. Trust the value of your knowledge, and that people will be curious to learn more about it.

Take the lead

Your next step may be to lead your own open science project. ‘Don’t be too ambitious’ at first recommends Ayala Ruano, based on his experience developing VueGen and HerrCompBioinfo, as well as organising bioinformatics bootcamps in Ecuador. Running an initiative can quickly become ’really demanding’, he says, so growing slowly and focusing on a few things to start with is important for sustainability.

Consider as well what knowledge you may need in this new role. Candian found taking a leadership course useful, for example, while Kao emphasises the importance of marketing skills – something ‘we’re just not very naturally good at’ in Europe, says Seibold. Many initiatives struggle to reach their intended users and contributors, ultimately compromising the impact and longevity of their work. ‘Visibility creates the community around your project,’ stresses Seibold as she discusses the (free) OSPARK Bootcamp&Resources that DRA developed with OLS; if you build an initiative, ‘be proud and loud about it.’