Open Science: From Theory to practice

A great event was organised during Open Access Week 2019 in Nicosia, Cyprus.

On the 24^th of October 2019, the Cyprus OpenAIRE NOAD hosted in the newly built premises of the Learning-Resource Centre Stelios Ioannou of the University of Cyprus, the National OpenAIRE workshop. Experts presented various aspects of Open Science. Issues like Citizen Science, Innovative metrics, practical aspects of Open Science in research, business development and innovation and legal aspects were addressed. Almost 100 participants were able to attend the event, mostly researchers, librarians and policy makers.

The Rector of the University of Cyprus Prof. Tasos Christofides, the President of the Cyprus Parliament Committee on Educational Affairs and Culture Dr. Kyriakos Chatzigiannis, and the Acting Director of the Library of the University of Cyprus Mrs Elena Diomidi-Parpouna gave the welcome addresses.

Dr. Marios Demetriades, Head of the Research Support Services of the University of Cyprus, gave an introductory speech, providing also the status of Open Science, to the biggest and oldest public University of Cyprus.Distinguished experts from Greece and Cyprus provided excellent speeches covering the subject of the event.

In particular:

The first speech of the event was dedicated to Citizen Science and Innovative metrics. 

Dr. Aliki Giannakopoulou, introduce the idea/philosophy, new tools and practices of Citizen Science. Then Dr. Giannis Tsakonas, presented the issue of Innovative metrics and how these are changing the way Research and Researchers are or should be evaluated. Dr. Christina Orphanidou, presented the benefits of the combination and use of Open Science to business and innovation providing real-life examples.

The second session started with the presentation of NI4OS – Europe by Dr. Andreas Athenodorou. An analysis of the EOSC environment was given in this presentation and the objectives of the project NI4OS-Europe in order to assist the implementation of this European vision. In full compliance to the previous presentation Dr. George Papastefanatos presented eInfraCentral and the European Catalogue of services and infrastructures.

Last speech of the second session was by Mr. Dimitris Michael, representing the Cyprus Ministry of Finance. Mr Michael presented the Strategy, actions and future plans of Open Data in Cyprus.

The closing speech of the event was dedicated on the Legal Issues of research data and not only. Dr. Prodromos Tsiavos covered extensively the legal aspects of data, GDPR and gave in full detail explanations regarding the collection, use and reuse of data.

All presentations were provided in Greek language so the audience was able to attend it in their mother language. 

The distinguished guest answered and discussed with the audience and provide all necessary information to make all aspects more familiar and concentrated to the audience needs.