2021 Open Access Week
Theme to be “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity” (Оctober 25-31, 2021)

The State Scientific and Technical Library of Ukraine within the framework of the National Electronic Information System (URIS) “URIS” celebrates the “International Open Access Week 2021“. We aim to involve Ukrainian scientists in cooperation in research, knowledge exchange and research interaction  through open exchange of scientific data and development of Ukrainian research infrastructure. This year’s theme is “International Open Access Week”, which will take place on October 25-31: “It matters how we gain our knowledge: Building structural justice”

International Open Access Week is a global event which is celebrated for the 11th time in 2021. One of the main purposes of the event is  to provide an opportunity for the academic and research community to continue learning about the potential benefits of open access, share their research with colleagues and take an active part in promoting open access as a new science standard.  The official hashtag of Open Access Week is #OAweek.

This year’s theme intentionally aligns with the recently released UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, of which Open Access is a crucial component. Circulated in draft form following discussion by representatives of UNESCO’s 193 member countries, the Recommendation powerfully articulates and centers the importance of equity in pursuing a future for scholarship that is open by default.

As the first global standard-setting framework on Open Science, the UNESCO Recommendation will provide an important guide for governments around the world as they move from aspiration to the implementation of open research practices. This year’s theme of “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity” highlights the Recommendation’s call for equitable participation for all producers and consumers of knowledge.

International Open Access Week is a time for the wider community to coordinate in taking action to make openness the default for research and to ensure that equity is at the center of this work. This year’s Open Access Week will be held from October 25th through the 31st; however, organizers are encouraged to host discussions and take action around this year’s theme whenever is most suitable during the year and to adapt the theme and activities to their local context. This is especially true as countries around the world continue to face varying levels of disruption due to COVID-19 and increasing disruption due to climate change.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion must be consistently prioritized year-round and integrated into the fabric of the open community, from how our infrastructure is built to how we organize community discussions to the governance structures we use. International Open Access Week is an important opportunity to catalyze new conversations, create connections across and between communities that can facilitate this co-design, and advance progress to build more equitable foundations for opening knowledge discussions and actions that need to be continued, year in and year out.

For more information about International Open Access Week, please visit www.openaccessweek.org.

Translations of this announcement in other languages can be found at www.openaccessweek.org.

Do not forget that all users of  the Open Ukrainian Citation Index (OUCI) can quickly find full text papers published open access by using the “Open Access” search filter.

You can read additional materials on Open Access:

#OAweek #OpenAccess #URIS