OSR: “The future of Open Science amid authoritarianism, geopolitical tensions and aspirations for data sovereignty” / 6 & 7 May 2026 / Apply now – deadline: 23 April 2026

[Guido Scherp]

-- apologies for cross-posting –

Dear colleagues,

With the Open Science Retreat (OSR) the ZBW brings together international Open Science supporters from different stakeholder groups. Again, we are planning two sessions where we will dive deeply into the topics that are of burning interest to us all.

We cordially invite you to join our 10^th Open Science Retreat that will be held virtually on 6 & 7 May 2026, 15:00-17:00 CEST.

It is dedicated to the theme “The future of Open Science amid authoritarianism, geopolitical tensions and aspirations for data sovereignty”.

Fundamental scientific principles and findings are under unprecedented attack: Disinformation and science scepticism has reached new levels, threatening the very foundations of democracy and science. Autocratic governments are attempting to restrict academic freedom and to use science and research to legitimise their very own political narratives and agendas. At the same time, geopolitical tensions are deepening, leading to increased security concerns in science and research, potentially leading to less openness, collaboration and communication among researchers around the globe. Last but not least, these developments are also having a significant impact on the availability of research infrastructures and Open Science materials. Do our societies need more data sovereignty to meet these challenges?

To guide our discussions, we would like to address the following questions:

• How can Open Science – with its emphasis on transparency, collaboration, equality of opportunities and reproducibility of scientific results – be sustained in the light of these global developments?
• What measures can we, as an international community of Open Science practitioners, take to ensure that Open Science is firmly established as the default mode of doing science in an increasingly challenging environment?
  In particular, how can we meet the challenges in areas like
  • endangered data, surveys and other Open Science materials?
  • endangered research infrastructures for science and research?
• Can greater data sovereignty help us overcome some of the challenges we face in Open Science, or are there other approaches that might be more promising?

Don't miss out on this opportunity and apply now for free for this unique networking event: openscienceretreat.zbw.eu
Deadline for application: 23 April 2026

The Open Science Retreat is an interactive event. Participants are expected to commit to active contribution during the entire retreat. The number of participants is limited (random selection, however, balanced with regard to geographical distribution and diversity aspects).
We are looking forward to an exciting #OpenScienceRetreat – be part of it!

Best,
Guido

(for the Open Science Retreat team)