I am wondering how far we can get with "Open X" movements in science and research, and I will combine my musings about this with a recommendation to attend a satellite event at the Euroscience Open Forum 2008 in Barcelona.

First, let's consider how far we have come in terms of opening up the research process:
* Open Access in the narrow sense, i.e. to published or at least peer-accepted research results, is real for a substantial share of research output and rapidly gaining ground (for most recent updates, click here).
* Open Access to the scholarly review process is gaining ground (public or interactive peer review, e.g. here).
* Open Access to empirical data (Open Data) is moving forward, too.
* Open Access to software (Open Source) is driving many aspects of society, including wikis and many research projects.
* Open Access to encyclopedic knowledge is becoming real on the heels of Wikipedia and Citizendium.
* Open Access to lab notebooks is being experimented with at OpenWetWare.

To sum up, there are not too many aspects of research that currently remain entirely in the dark. They basically boil down to grant writing (an attempt is here) as well as the associated review and grant allocation procedures, bookkeeping (which is partly open in much of Scandinavia, within the wider framework of Open Government), the actual research and data analysis, and to writing up the results for publication.

I do not see any technical issues prohibiting complete openness of the whole research cycle, and so I deem it a valid
target to aim at, already at the current stage of technology. However, people more involved with the practical implementation of these things may have more complex views on these matters, and so I am glad to see that such topics found their way into the program of ESOF 2008, in the form of a satellite event entitled Collaborating for the future of open science where experts will discuss them.

SPECIAL CALL FOR PAPERS FROM YOUNG SCIENTISTS

Deadline for Abstract Submission:
31 May 2008

CODATA is pleased to announce a Special Call for Papers from young scientists working in the scientific data community. You are invited to submit abstracts for possible presentation at the 21 st CODATA conference “Scientific Information for Society- from Today to the Future”. The CODATA 2008 Conference takes place at the National Technical University, KPI, in Kyiv , Ukraine on 5-8 October 2008, see http://www.codata.org/08conf/index.html .

The papers will be reviewed by the International Scientific Program Committee in consultation with members of the newly appointed CODATA Young Scientists Committee . A number of papers will be selected for special presentation at the conference. The registration fee will be waived for the selected speakers and their local costs will be covered.

Deadline for Submission is: 31 May 2008

What is a young scientist?
To be eligible to be considered you must ideally be under 35 years. In certain cases exceptions may be made but the absolute age limit cannot be over 40. Ideally a Young Scientist should have received a PhD or equivalent within three years prior to the Conference.
Submissions should relate to one of the Conference topics.
Details via
http://www.codata.org/08conf/callforpapers-youngsci.html .

CODATA (Committee on Data for Science and Technology) was established in 1966 as an interdisciplinary committee of the International Council of Science (ICSU), formerly the International Council of Scientific Unions. It seeks to improve the compilation, critical evaluation, storage, and retrieval of data of importance to science and technology.