Train the Trainer Bootcamp: The Unconference

A virtual unconference (also called a barcamp) is a participant-driven event where the agenda is created collaboratively by attendees rather than set in advance by organisers. Instead of formal presentations, participants propose discussion topics beforehand, and sessions are then scheduled based on interest. The format places strong emphasis on networking and peer exchange, which offered participants an informal space to connect and reconnect with their fellow OpenAIRE Open Science Train-the-Trainer Bootcamp peers. The idea is to continue discussions on shared experiences and challenges.

This unconference was open to everyone who had successfully completed any of OpenAIRE's Open Science Train-the-Trainer Bootcamps or FAIR RDM Bootcamp for Data Stewards. Rather than building the programme on the day, the agenda was co-created in advance through the barcamps.eu platform.

Participants were invited to suggest and vote for discussion topics of interest in advance of the event. 

Two topics were discussed:

- Persistent Identifiers (PIDs): Reimagining Governance and Sovereignty - suggested and chaired by Sergio Santamarina (Library Management Specialist and Librarian at the National University of José C. Paz, Argentina). 

The discussion explored PIDs beyond their technical role and explored the political and economic dimensions. Sergio started the conversation drawing from the Latin American experience, to analysing how PIDs are governed and monetised by commercial entities. These can become points of infrastructural dependency, affecting the visibility, sovereignty, and economic sustainability of research from the Global South and non-commercial publishing ecosystems. Part of the conversation also focused on ARKS, an open, mainstream, non-paywalled, cheaper, more flexible and decentralised PID.

- Diamond Open Access: From Principle to Sustainable Infrastructure - suggested and chaired by Amber Osman (XploreOpen, Pakistan). 

The session examined practical questions around sustainability and what it looks like for Diamond OA in real institutional contexts. The discussion also explored which shared infrastructure and governance models allow for scalability, and safeguard quality and accountability, as well as the collaborative mechanisms needed to support non-commercial publishing at a global scale.

With a total of 30 participants, what stood out most was the openness of the discussions, the generosity in sharing real-world experiences, and the strong sense of community. In the future, we are thinking of changing the format to shorter one-hour events, maybe every other month, with the topic still being suggested and chaired by one of the bootcamp participants.

Thank you to Sergio and Amber for chairing the two sessions, and to everyone who participated in the event. We are looking forward to building on this momentum.