We are proud to introduce to all of you our latest OpenAIRE E.B. member Judit Eva Fazekas-Paragh! Judit is Head of the Department of Education and Research Support at the University of Debrecen and the National Library. Follow us as we get to know our newest addition via 7 introductory questions on who she is, what she does, and how she envisions the future of research and OS. Enjoy!
- Please introduce yourself and talk to us a bit about your position and organisation
As the head of the Education and Research Support Department at the University of Debrecen University and National Library (DEENK), I coordinate the management and development of our university’s CRIS system, "Tudóstér," which tracks and organizes the research activities of our scholars. Additionally, I oversee the institutional data repository "Adattár," ensuring it aligns with FAIR principles, and work to make all eligible publications in our repository, DEA, openly accessible. These systems are interconnected to enhance the visibility and accessibility of our research output, and most of our platforms are built on open-source technologies.
In my role as OpenAIRE NOAD and HUNOR working group coordinator, I actively support Hungarian stakeholders in engaging with the EU’s Open Science initiatives. My dissemination efforts include managing the content of the openscience.hu and instant science.hu websites, alongside with conducting training sessions on Open Science throughout various stages of the research lifecycle.
- What does Open Science mean to you and what do you think it means for the future of research and science in general?
Open Science is an exciting challenge for me. It's been over two decades since the BOAI, and we still haven't fully achieved all of its goals. However, the paradigm shift has begun, with the pandemic playing a significant role in accelerating this transformation.
Open Science is quickly becoming the ideal model for conducting research in the 21st century. With the growth of technology and the increasing impact of AI, the traditional boundaries of scientific collaboration and information sharing are being redefined. Open Science promotes transparency, accessibility, and inclusivity, making research data and other research outputs available to a global audience. As AI continues to evolve, it enhances the ability to process vast amounts of open data, leading to more efficient discoveries, cross-disciplinary insights, and a faster pace of innovation. In this new landscape, Open Science is not just a desirable framework - it is emerging as the standard for scholarly communication. Researchers, institutions, and policymakers are embracing its principles to ensure that knowledge is not confined to a few, but shared openly for the benefit of society. With these shifts, Open Science is set to become the foundation upon which future scientific progress is built.
- What do you think is the next big step in the development of Open Science?
The next big step in the development of Open Science will likely focus on overcoming challenges and aligning incentives to fully support open practices across the entire research ecosystem. Some of the key areas that could shape its future is the reform of research assessment, aligning policies and standards at global level, building professional careers in data stewardship, helping diamond open access publishers to be able to shape the future of the publishing ecosystem, assessing the use of open infrastructures
- As an OpenAIRE NOAD, you have a unique insight into how open science is introduced/ received in your country; could you describe your local Open Science ecosystem?
Hungary's Open Science ecosystem is evolving, driven by key institutions, libraries, and national initiatives, but it still faces significant challenges.
In October 2021, the NRDI Office released the Hungarian National Open Science Position Paper. The statement aimed to highlight the importance and urgency of the new approach for Hungary's scientific community, emphasizing its strategic significance and the growing role of Open Science in international collaboration. Since this strategic approach many new institutions have joined the open science discourse in Hungary. However, there is a need for a stronger national-level policy to unify efforts in reforming research assessment, in educating researchers with the essential open science skills, to create interoperable infrastructures to the wider adoption of Open Science practices.
Many Hungarian universities and research organizations are using Open Access institutional repositories and promoting research data management (RDM) in alignment with FAIR principles Participation in European projects like the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and OpenAIRE helps Hungary align with international standards, but further efforts are needed to fully integrate Open Science into research culture, particularly in terms of policy reforms, incentives, and community engagement.
- As an Open Science “ambassador”, what are the two most common questions you receive when people want to know about OS? What is your strategy when answering them?
The most common question is “What are the benefits of Open Science for a researcher?”. I usually talk about the key advantages, such as increased visibility and accessibility of research outputs, which can lead to greater impact. I also like to open discourse on how Open Science fosters collaboration and innovation by allowing others to build on researchers' work. To make it more practical, I share success stories from researchers who have benefited from adopting Open Science practices, illustrating how openness can enhance their work and career.
Another hot topic is “How does Open Science affect funding opportunities?”. When this question comes up, I like to explain that many funding agencies are increasingly prioritizing or requiring Open Science practices in grant applications and highlight that adopting Open Science can make researchers more competitive for funding, as it demonstrates a commitment to transparency and collaboration. I also share examples of funding bodies that support open research initiatives and how being involved in Open Science can open doors to new funding opportunities and collaborations.
- Also, what are the two most common misconceptions that you come across regarding OS?
“Open Science is just about making publications free to access.”
While open access to publications is a key part of Open Science, it's much broader than that. Open Science encompasses open data, open peer review, open methodologies, and even citizen science. It's about making the entire research process transparent and collaborative, not just the final paper. I explain that it's a holistic approach aimed at increasing reproducibility, collaboration, and accessibility at every stage of the research lifecycle.
“Open Science means everything has to be completely open to everyone.”
Many people tend to think that Open Science requires all research data or outputs to be openly available without restrictions. I clarify that Open Science advocates for as much openness as possible, but recognizes that some data, especially sensitive or confidential information, must remain restricted. Ethical and legal considerations, such as privacy concerns or intellectual property rights, are important, and Open Science encourages responsible openness based on these factors.
- What are your aspirations, hopes and vision for the future of Open Science, both in Europe as well as the rest of the world?
As AI continues to advance, Open Science is set to become the new standard in how research is conducted. This combination will make collaboration easier, improve data sharing, and streamline the research process, making it more efficient and accessible for everyone. By using AI tools, researchers can embrace openness and transparency, which will help drive innovation and progress in science.
Thank you for your time and congratulations!
