Recap of the 'Engaging with Open Science 2023' Webinar Series by IntechOpen Journals

In 2022, we launched our Open Science Journals portfolio, with a view to move beyond Open Access and support the changing needs of academics. By working with our community, we quickly recognized there is space for us to assist them in gaining an even deeper understanding of Open Science principles, practices, and policies. This led us to launch a three-part webinar series where we discussed key developments in Open Science with industry-leading experts and academics.

The webinar series ‘Engaging with Open Science 2023’ began on 18 April with the first session focusing on Preprints. This was followed by a session discussing Open Data on 13 June, and the final session, centred around Open Peer Review, took place on 26 September during the Peer Review Week. The webinars featured industry specialists and experts in the field of Open Science and were warmly welcomed by the community. More than 2300 registrants from various academic and cultural backgrounds had the chance to learn more about Open Science. This further confirms that our Open Access platform is an excellent avenue for bringing together diverse individuals with a shared aim—adopting Open Science practices and effectively implementing them.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our speakers for their fantastic presentations, which were both insightful and thought-provoking: Eric Olson (Center for Open Science), Mark Hahnel (Figshare), Dr. Thomas Heinbockel (Howard University College of Medicine, USA), Dr. Kamran Naim (CERN), Jennifer Gibson (Dryad), Adrian Stanley (Independent contractor) and Alessio Bolognesi (eLife). A special thank you goes to our webinar series host, Dr. Sarah Greaves, for skillfully chairing the webinars and ensuring their smooth flow.

In reflecting on the series, Natalia Reinic Babic, Head of the Journal Department and Open Science at IntechOpen, shared her views: "The 'Engaging with Open Science 2023' series not only marks a milestone in our commitment to Open Science but also highlights the power of collaboration in shaping the future of research. The positive response from the community emphasises the importance of open dialogue and knowledge sharing. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to fostering a culture of openness and inclusivity in scientific exploration."

Most importantly, we want to express our gratitude to all of you who registered for and attended our live sessions. We were thrilled to see such an engaged audience during the Q&A sessions.

While our 2023 webinar series has concluded, our commitment to advancing Open Science continues. Explore recorded sessions at your convenience on the general webinar series landing page, and join our email list for updates on the upcoming 2024 series here. Stay informed about our ongoing journey in promoting scientific discovery and embracing the Open Science ethos.