Frequently Asked Questions about Open Science
Here you will find answers to common questions about Open Science.
What does Open Science mean?
Open Science means that research and education are conducted as openly as possible, for example through open access to publications, data, methods, and educational resources. The goal is increased transparency, quality, societal benefit, and everyone’s right to knowledge.
Why is MDU investing in Open Science?
The initiative is part of MDU’s strategic work to ensure high quality in research and education and aligns with national and international guidelines. Open Science strengthens collaboration, research reliability, and the university’s role in society.
What does Open Science mean in practice for me as research or teaching staff?
It means integrating open practices into everyday workflows, for example in publishing, data management, or the use of open educational resources. Support, guidance, and examples are available to show how this can be done in daily work.
Is Open Science a requirement or an ideal?
Open Science is both a strategic direction and a long term cultural shift. Some aspects are governed by laws, funder requirements, and guidelines, while others involve developing good practice and shared working methods over time. Open Science is a way of making research and research based knowledge accessible. It increases trust through transparency, saves resources through reuse and further development, and ensures that public funds can be spent on research itself rather than on publication fees.
What support is available at MDU?
MDU provides support through the University Library, research support services, IT, and other functions. The Open Science project coordinates and highlights this support to make it easier to find the right help at the right time.
How does Open Science affect students?
Open Science increases access to knowledge, promotes transparent research, and provides open educational resources — all of which strengthen the quality of education and enable lifelong learning.
How is Open Science connected to collaboration and societal benefit?
Through openness, research results become more accessible and useful for partners and the public. This creates new opportunities for dialogue, shared learning, and societal impact.
Is Open Science the same in all disciplines?
No. Open Science takes different forms depending on discipline, method, and context. The core principles are shared, but the application must be adapted to different activities and conditions.
Who is responsible for the Open Science project?
The project is led on behalf of the university leadership and carried out in collaboration across several parts of the organization. The goal is long term, shared responsibility rather than a time limited project.