Open Knowledge and Social Justice: An Interview With SPARC's Heather Joseph

"Heather Joseph, executive director of SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition), was the 2021 recipient of the Miles Conrad Award from NISO (National Information Standards Organization), and she delivered the annual Miles Conrad lecture at this year’s NISO Plus conference (see image, below). Joseph, who has led SPARC since 2005, was commended by NISO executive director Todd Carpenter for her long-term leadership in the OA movement and “crucial role” in transforming the information industry. Her lecture, titled “In Pursuit of Open Knowledge,” was delivered live via Zoom on Feb. 24, and NISO has made the recording available here. We spoke shortly after the conclusion of the conference, and this is an edited and abridged version of our conversation...."