Statement of the UN Scientific Advisory Board on: Open Science

"The ability of science to support urgently needed global solutions is under threat. Geopolitical tensions are constraining international scientific collaboration. Trust in public scientific institutions is eroding, while the risks of mis- and disinformation are on the rise. Short-term financial and political pressures are eclipsing anticipatory action for a sustainable future. To safeguard science and enable its societal benefits, this Scientific Advisory Board calls for urgent cooperation to advance science as a global public good – and we stress that doing so requires accelerated transformation to open science.

“Open science” is a global movement to make scientific knowledge available and accessible for all. It encompasses processes such as open research methods, open data, open access publications, and open-source software and hardware, improving our ability to produce, reproduce, and refine scientific knowledge. These are central components of thriving science systems....

To address these challenges and enable the benefits of open science, the Scientific Advisory Board calls on UN Member States to:

• Accelerate implementation of the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science;

• Action commitments on open science and open data outlined in the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact; and

• Ensure active contribution of scientists within Member State efforts to address barriers to open science and advance science as a global public good...."