Openness in Science and Innovation
Discover the advantages of openness and gain skills to make research and innovation accessible, transparent, and collaborative.
Duration
8 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Openness in Science and Innovation
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Delve into the open science framework with the University of Potsdam
In the changing role of research, openness can be hugely beneficial for transparency and accessibility. However, it can also present many issues for a researcher to navigate.
On this eight-week course, you’ll discover both the benefits and challenges of openness in science and innovation. With this knowledge, you’ll learn the practical tools to help overcome barriers you may face.
You’ll explore aspects and drivers of open science to understand how innovation practices for researchers, universities, businesses, and society can help solve complex social challenges.
Unpack the benefits of open innovation
Having gained a solid introduction to open science, you’ll explore the open science policy of the European Union and the goals within this.
Next, you’ll delve into open innovation and the concepts of openness to discover the benefits of this knowledge-sharing approach.
Develop your understanding of data management
To help develop your skills as a researcher, you’ll explore best practices for data management and the importance of open data.
You’ll also learn research principles to understand how you can become an open researcher.
Explore the role of science communication
Finally, you’ll discover the collaboration between science and society. You’ll unpack the theory and practice of science communication to help you gain practical skills in raising awareness of science-related topics.
Guided by international experts, you’ll create a communication and impact strategy for research to ensure you finish the course with the knowledge and resources to create openness in science and innovation.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction to the Course
Welcome to Week 1!
Get to know the experts of the course and meet your fellow learners. Start your learning with an insight into the transformation of universities.
The Transformation of Higher Education
Dr. Gertraud Leimüller (winnovation) discusses the evolution of higher education and a promising outlook on its future.
Resources
Resources used in this step.
Assess your Learning
Assess your learning on The transformation of Higher Education.
Week 2
What is Open Science?
Welcome to Week 2!
Clemens Blümel will introduce you this week to Open Science. He works at the German Center for Higher Education and Science Research (DZHW).
What is Open Science?
The goal of this week is to introduce you to the topics and terminologies of Open Science, how Open Science is understood, why it is discussed, and what it's current drivers are.
Resources
Resources of 'What is Open Science?'
Assess your Learning
Assess your learning on 'What is Open Science?'.
Week 3
The Open Science Policy of the European Union
Introduction to this Week
Get to know Hans-Hennig von Grünberg and learn about the learning outcomes of this week.
The Open Science Policy of the European Union
In this week we will discuss why Open Science and Open Innovation are important issues for the European Union.
Resources
Resources used in this week.
Assess your Learning of Week 3
Multiple Choice Questions to test your learning of this week.
Week 4
What is Open (Social) Innovation?
What is Open Innovation?
Learn about the development of Open Innovation with Dr. Gertraud Leimüller (winnovation)
What is Open Social Innovation?
See how Open Innovation can be used to address social problems, with Amelie Riedesel (ProjectTogether)
Resources
Resources used in this week.
Assess your Learning
Assess your learning of the topics covered in this week.
Week 5
Let's Talk About Data
Introduction to Week 5
Get a summary of the last four weeks and let us introduce you to this week.
Research Data Management
Learn about the management of data from Hendrik Gessner (University of Potsdam).
Open Data
Open Data is an essential pillar of Open Science and should be part of every researcher’s skill set. Dr. Markus Konkol (University of Twente) will speak about the concepts, principles, and practices.
Open Reproducible Research (ORR)
Get insights by Dr. Markus Konkol about what Open Reproducibility Research is and how you can practice it.
Resources
Resources for Week 5
Assess your Learning
Assess your learning of week 5
Week 6
Collaboration in Science and Society
Introduction
Introduction to Week 6
The Role of Universities in Innovation Ecosystems
The Role of Universities in Innovation Ecosystems with Dr. Sybille Reichert (Reichert Consulting).
Collaborative Science
Collaboration in Science is discussed by Clemens Blümel (DZHW).
Resources
Resources used in week 6
Assess your Learning
Assess your learning of Week 6.
Week 7
Open Access Publication
Welcome to Week 7!
Learn more about our expert on Open Access and the learning outcomes of the week.
The Current Academic Publishing System
What are the major concerns regarding the current practice of publishing in closed-access journals or venues?
The Publication Process
As mentioned, the term open access can apply to all kinds of scholarly information, however, this chapter will focus on text publications, which includes journal articles, monographs or contributions to edited collections.
Creative Commons Licences in Detail
Learn what creative commons are and how to use them.
Transforming the Scholarly Publishing System
How to transform the scholarly publishing system?
Resources
Resources used in week 7
Assess your Learning
Check your knowledge of week 7
Week 8
How to make Open Science with an Impact?
Welcome to Week 8!
This week we speak about strategies for better communication and impact of research.
Science Communication
In the first part of this week Dr. Benedikt Fecher (HIIG) speaks about science communication in theory, empirically, and in practice.
Strategic Impact Management
Research is innovative when it also leads to changes in practice. Bringing about the desired changes requires strategic planning. Get an insight into Strategic Impact Management with Dr. Sophia Rost (University of Potsdam).
Innovation Indicators
Clemens Blümel (DZHW) introduces you in the last part of the course to the question of how to measure impactful and open research.
Resources
Resources used in this week
Assess your Learning
Check your understanding of week 8
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe the relevance of open practices in research and innovation for science and society
- Classify the Open Science movement in social developments and their impact on universities and science in general
- Identify Open Science and Open Innovation methods and tools for your own project
- Apply Open Science and Open Reproducibility Research principles to your own work
- Evaluate appropriate tools to work collaboratively and to make your research more accessible and transparent
- Explore the tools and methods to publish your text, data and code open
- Explore what potential shortcomings of research and innovation indicators in the digital age are.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in open science and open innovation practices.
It will be of interest to students and researchers who want to gain theoretical insights as well as practical skills in open science.
Who developed the course?
University of Potsdam
Founded in 1991, the University of Potsdam has evolved into a unique center for science and technology within Germany.
Learning on FutureLearn
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Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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