Open Science and research culture in practice

How can universities, funders and research teams make Open Science possible for people working within unequal research systems? This webinar examines how institutional incentives, funding structures, recognition systems and leadership support affect who can take part in Open Science and under what conditions. It looks beyond formal commitments to openness, equity and inclusion, focusing instead on the practical conditions that allow researchers to act: flexible resources, institutional legitimacy, visible endorsement, peer support and recognition for collaborative and open work. The session considers what inclusive Open Science requires in practice, particularly for women, early-career researchers and underrepresented groups in STEM. Drawing on ORCA’s Catalytic Awards Program, it examines how small grants and pilot initiatives can support Open Science practices, strengthen research culture and confer legitimacy in under-resourced institutional contexts. For this session, we were joined by Eunice Mercado-Lara. Eunice has worked in the public and philanthropic sectors to advance equity and open research through policy development and funding programmes. She is a former Civic Science Fellow and has served on boards and committees supporting open scholarship practices. She holds a Master’s degree from McGill University and a BA from El Colegio de San Luis. You can access the worksheet used in the webinar here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1UlOI0...