The UAB today organised the first edition of the Open Science Conference, an initiative that aims to become an annual meeting, according to Vice-Rector for Innovation, Transfer and Entrepreneurship Rosa Maria Sebastián. As she explained, with the open science strategy, the UAB wants to strengthen its transformative role in society and promote "shared responsibility" with the social fabric around it.
Vice-Rector Sebastián explained that many structures at the University are participating in the open science strategy, a concept that has been included in the new Statutes of the UAB and that also responds to the open science strategy proposed by both the National Assessment and Accreditation Agency (ANECA) and the Government of Catalonia.
The vice-rector thanked the Library Service for the work carried out in the field of open science and explained the main initiatives undertaken by the UAB in this field. One such initiative is the creation of the Open Science Thermometer, as well as the integration into the European CoARA initiative, which involves a new research evaluation system, and the signing of the Barcelona Declaration, which aims to promote open research information. In addition, Vice-Rector Sebastián announced that, next year, the first UAB Open Science Awards are expected to be presented.
The inauguration also included the participation of UAB Vice-Rector for Research Assumpció Malgosa. Vice-Rector Sebastián thanked Professor Joan Gómez Pallarès, Professor of Latin Philology at the UAB and former Director General of Research, in charge of promoting the Government of Catalonia's open science strategy, for his presence at the event. The day also included presentations by Lluís Anglada, open science advisor for the Consortium of University Services of Catalonia (CSUC); Pastora Martínez, commissioner for the UOC's International Action; and Núria Benítez, Head of the Strategic and Open Science area at iCERCA.
