as published on Jun 18, 2025 on the Scholarly Communications @ UVic blog
In today’s digital age, a significant amount of research data remains inaccessible to the public. This creates a major hurdle, as data is the engine of discovery and innovation. To tackle this challenge, Open Science has emerged as a vital research reform movement. Its core principle is simple: knowledge and understanding generated by researchers should be treated as public goods, freely available for the benefit of all society. This marks a significant departure from traditional academic practices that often restrict access to research and promote inequitable systems.
It’s a common misconception that “Open Science” applies only to the natural sciences. In reality, it embraces all academic disciplines. The movement gained traction in Europe, and in many European languages the word for “science” more closely translates to “scholarship.” This nuance is why, particularly in North America, “Open Science” and “Open Scholarship” can be used interchangeably.
The Open Science Community of Victoria (OSCV) is a new, collaborative initiative from the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University. This cross-institutional, multidisciplinary community is dedicated to promoting open research practices with the goal of driving cultural and institutional change. OSCV is also proud to join the International Network of Open Science & Scholarship Communities, a collaborative network connecting and supporting over 50 local communities across 27 countries worldwide.
OSCV aims to foster cultural change by raising awareness about the importance and advantages of open science, empowering individuals to collaborate on solutions, and strengthening existing open approaches. OSCV welcomes everyone, regardless of their expertise level – from faculty and students at UVic and RRU to postdocs, staff, and broader community members. The community organizes a variety of events, including lectures, workshops, panels, and “show-and-tell” sessions that address current topics in open science.
We invite you to join OSCV to contribute to a more open and collaborative research environment. To become a member and receive our mailing list updates, please complete the Join the Open Scholarship Community Victoria form. We look forward to connecting with you and building a more open and equitable future!
