Open Science

FOSTER defines Open Science as the practice of science in such a way that others can collaborate and contribute, where research data, lab notes and other research processes are freely available, under terms that enable reuse, redistribution and reproduction of the research and its underlying data and methods. In a nutshell, Open Science is transparent and accessible knowledge that is shared and developed through collaborative networks (Vicente-Sáez & Martínez-Fuentes 2018). Importantly to note is that Open Science is not different to traditional science. It just means that you carry out your research in a more transparent and collaborative way. Open Science applies to all research disciplines.

Open Science encompasses a variety of practices, including for example open access to publications (Open Access), open research data, open source software/tools, open workflows, citizen science, open educational resources, and alternative methods of research evaluation including open peer review (Pontika et al., 2015).

In 2007, Hasselt University signed the 'Berlin Declaration on Open Access', as did most other Flemish universities. This lays the basis for more accessibility and transparency of scientific research results. Through OpenAccess, research results are spread quickly and are freely accessible via the Internet. In this way, research and scientific achievements gain greater international visibility.
Pursuant to the Berlin Declaration, Hasselt University decided to implement an open access policy as of the 1st of October 2016 based on the 'green road', whereby an institution’s own publication output is managed in a repository. Hasselt University promotes its own open access database, Document Server@UHasselt, for this purpose. The Board of Governors approved this open access policy on April 12, 2016.