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Panel

Building Bridges: Cultivating Open Science Communities Within Research Institutions

16 September 2025| 11:00
81/R-003C - Science Gateway Auditorium C

Moderator

Merten Dahlkemper

European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN)

Building Open Science Communities That Last

Policies and training are just the start, how do we sustain Open Science through strong, researcher-led communities? This panel explores how institutions can embed openness into culture, support inclusive governance, and professionalize community-building roles. Join us to share lessons, spark ideas, and co-create pathways to lasting, people-powered change.


While many institutions have embraced open science through policies and training initiatives, creating enduring communities that sustain open practices remains a significant challenge. This panel explores strategies for developing resilient, researcher-led open science communities that persist despite institutional turnover, shifting priorities, and the project-based nature of academia.

The discussion will primarily examine how institutions can move beyond episodic interventions toward sustainable community structures that embed open science into institutional culture. Panelists will share insights on establishing people-centered governance models that prioritize inclusivity and shared ownership, developing community champions networks, and creating formal and informal mentorship pathways. Special attention will be given to the professionalization and recognition of roles that embed community-building approaches within the research ecosystem, as these formalized positions can significantly enhance the resilience of open science communities and ensure technologies and practices genuinely serve researcher needs. Additionally, panelists will explore strategies for integrating open science practices into existing departmental workflows to create lasting cultural change.

Through this exchange, we hope to develop a shared understanding of effective pathways toward cultivating open science communities that accelerate discovery through collaboration.

Panelists

Lisanna Paladin

Lisanna Paladin leads Data Science Internal Support and Community at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). She brings expertise in building sustainable research communities, implementing training programs, and developing institutional support systems for open science practices.

Malvika Sharan

Malvika Sharan is co-Director of Open Life Science and Senior Researcher at The Alan Turing Institute. Her expertise includes designing people-centered governance models for research communities and creating inclusive structures that empower researchers at all career stages to participate in open science initiatives.

Nokuthula Mchunu

Nokuthula Mchunu serves as Deputy Director of the National Research Foundation of South Africa, where she builds partnerships between research organizations globally. She contributes insights on scaling open science communities across diverse institutional and cultural contexts, with particular expertise in developing regions.