IFLA and open science

IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) has approved the establishment of a new Open Science and Scholarship Advisory Committee (OSSAC). OSSAC focuses on promoting Open Science at a global level, working in collaboration with other organizations and networks. The committee has already contributed to several consultations, including international initiatives such as the International Science Council and UNESCO, submitting feedback on Open Science monitoring.

One of OSSAC’s outputs is the publication of Open Access Vocabulary, designed to gather the most widely used Open Access terms. The vocabulary provides translations, definitions, and references to official documents, serving as an easy-to-read reference guide that will be regularly updated.

IFLA, along with Creative Commons and the Wikimedia Foundation, also advocated for the re-inclusion of Open Science principles in the United Nations’ Pact for the Future. In an open letter, they emphasized that Open Science is crucial for fostering transparent and innovative research that accelerates progress in addressing global challenges.

IFLA organizes the IFLA Information Futures Summit on 30 September and 1 October, that will be partly available for online streaming on YouTube. The conference will also feature the launch of the Brisbane Declaration, which will reflect on the future of information and knowledge environments.