Sharing Scientific Data as a Foundation for Scientific Progress and Social Responsibility

How would you define Open Science, and why do you think it is important to support it?

Open Science can generally be understood as a transformation in scientific practice that responds to the challenges and opportunities of the digital era, ultimately enhancing the societal impact of science. The Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities from 2003 stated that the internet has fundamentally changed the practical and economic realities of disseminating scientific knowledge and cultural heritage. Over the following decades, the concept—initially focused primarily on scientific publishing—expanded to encompass the openness of the entire research cycle. This level of openness enables more effective dissemination and reproducibility of research findings and processes, ensuring that scientific outcomes bring the widest possible societal benefits.

And why is it important to support Open Science? The system of open-access research publication offers numerous advantages. It benefits not only researchers, whose findings can reach a broader audience, but also society as a whole. The availability of data fosters innovation and makes research more efficient. Sharing scientific data drives scientific progress and contributes to more creative discoveries. I would also like to emphasize that open access to research data is a key element in ensuring the reliability and verifiability of scientific conclusions. This, in turn, helps to build public trust in science.

​However, when opening access to scientific results, it is essential to carefully consider the protection of an institution’s intellectual property. The timing and method of publishing and sharing scientific data must therefore be approached with great responsibility. ​

You specialize in the research of optical biosensors, a field that overlaps with medicine, chemistry, and physics, and you are among the most cited Czech scientists. How important is data sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration in your research?

I believe that modern science is fundamentally based on collaboration, and a flexible system for sharing data and knowledge is crucial for its further advancement. This applies across all scientific disciplines. In some fields, such as mathematics, computer science, and theoretical physics, open sharing of publications, source code, and data has already become standard practice.

On the other hand, in experimental sciences—where researchers use sophisticated instruments and technologies, often developed in-house—data sharing, particularly the description of the conditions under which the data were generated, is a complex process. Even well-documented data may have limited usability due to the unique nature of the experimental setup. We encounter these limitations both as data producers and as recipients of data from other research groups in our field.

The management and long-term preservation of scientific data are crucial for their future use. What are the main challenges in this area, and how do you think they could be effectively addressed?

I believe that in order to make further progress in scientific data management in the Czech Republic, we will need a more comprehensive and well-developed strategy that coordinates access to scientific data across disciplines and institutions. In our national research and development system, there is also a great deal of caution—particularly within the academic community—regarding the potential misuse of their data or even concerns about "data theft."

I believe that strengthening trust in this area will require effective and consistent communication from key stakeholders, as well as support for researchers in adopting new methods and tools (including, for example, the introduction of new data steward roles). It is also essential to build the necessary infrastructure at both the national and institutional levels, including the development of domain-specific repositories. Additionally, attention should be given to aligning practices across different fields to ensure interoperability, including interdisciplinary compatibility.

As a member of the Academic Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences, you are involved in the evaluation of research institutions as well as the Open Science agenda. How do these two areas intersect, and how is Open Science reflected in the evaluation practices of the Czech Academy of Sciences?

As a member of the Academic Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences responsible for coordinating the evaluation of research and professional activities at CAS institutes, I have also been part of discussions on how to incorporate Open Science principles into the evaluation process. In November 2022, the Czech Academy of Sciences joined the signatories of COARA – the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (COARA). The COARA initiative aligns in many ways with the principles that the Academy has long applied in assessing its institutes, including efforts to take into account Open Science practices within CAS institutions.

The evaluation of CAS institutes is a comprehensive and complex system designed to professionally and objectively capture all key aspects of their functioning down to the level of individual research teams. Moreover, it is a system that continually evolves in response to changes in the scientific landscape and societal needs. In our evaluations, we aim to emphasize not only the production of scientific results but also other activities through which researchers contribute to the scientific community and which relate to Open Science—such as education, peer review, public lectures and outreach activities, engagement with the general public, roles in scientific journals, and efforts in data management and sharing.

I consider it essential that, in the future, these aspects of Open Science—so important for both the scientific community and society—be further integrated into the criteria for career advancement within our institutions.

How can universities and research institutions better support Open Science? Are there specific steps they should or could take?

The Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) has been actively promoting open access to scientific information for a long time. At the end of November 2024, the CAS leadership approved a set of recommendations for research institutions titled Principles of Open Science at CAS. This document provides guidelines for the unified handling of open scientific knowledge and encourages CAS institutes to follow principles such as openness, sustainability, and transparency while also emphasizing the importance of protecting intellectual property.

In general, I believe it is crucial for research institutions to take a strategic approach to Open Science and to develop internal policies for managing research data—of course, with respect to the institution’s field of research and the specific nature of scientific data in its disciplines. Establishing proper infrastructure and ensuring sufficient capacities and services will be essential for effective scientific data management.Equally important is fostering the acceptance of Open Science principles among researchers. This can be significantly supported by high-quality educational programs and institutional support processes that raise awareness of Open Science and its benefits. Here, I find it particularly important that, in the dialogue between funders and research institutions, the management and sharing of scientific data are designed in a way that genuinely benefits the scientific community and is not perceived as an unnecessary bureaucratic burden.

Do you perceive a growing need for data stewards in the Czech research environment to assist scientists with data management? How could their role be more effectively integrated into research teams?

I do observe that many institutes within the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) have recently been opening data steward positions. Data stewards play a key role not only in supporting researchers with the management of their scientific data but also in assisting with the preparation of research funding applications. Their involvement helps establish an appropriate system for managing research data generated within a project—an increasingly required and encouraged practice by many funding agencies.

The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) is developing an infrastructure for sharing scientific data across Europe. What benefits do you see this initiative bringing to the scientific community?

I consider the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) a highly significant initiative, as it is creating an easily accessible infrastructure with a wide range of services for working with and sharing research data. This is crucial for scientists across all disciplines and institutions. In fields where research data-sharing infrastructure and standards have been established for some time, EOSC will further drive development and enhance interdisciplinary interoperability. At the same time, the initiative opens new opportunities for researchers in disciplines and institutions where systematic support for working with research data has not yet been fully established.