Open data – challenges and opportunities for change

Associated event of the IFLA Information Futures Summit, cohosted by the Advisory Committee on Open Science and Scholarship (OSS) and the Advisory Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM).

This one-day event will explore the current state of open data internationally and in Australia, and the underpinning frameworks and infrastructures. Data is foundational to good research, policy development, sharing culture, and innovation. The imperative for open responds to challenges around equitable access to quality data, information integrity, evidence based policy development, and the development of new technologies, such as generative AI, for which trustworthiness is central. Licensing and copyright reform is a foundational requirement for a healthy data ecosystem. For example, creators need to be attributed for their work, and traditional knowledge practices need to be respected and acknowledged.

At this event, associated with the IFLA Information Futures Summit and co-hosted by the IFLA Open Science & Scholarship Advisory Committee and Copyright and Other Legal Matters Advisory Committee, we will reflect on international developments, regional challenges, and opportunities for reform, and will delve into practical actions attendees can take in their own libraries and related organisations. The need to influence stakeholders, to identify and overcome barriers to adoption, and the crucial role of libraries in ensuring ongoing access and integrity of data will all be explored.

Panel 1: The current state of open data and the role of libraries:

This panel session will consider the context for open data including creating data sharing cultures, and understanding and overcoming resistance to data sharing and data publication. While policy matters, training, incentives, and sustainable infrastructures are essential. This session will draw on the role of libraries in creating environments for data sharing, publication, and reuse, and how these roles interact with other stakeholders. Participants will leave this session with a practical understanding of examples from different libraries that have been successful and how they can apply these to their own context.

Panel 2: Open data and information integrity:

This panel session will reflect on issues of integrity and trust in the information ecosystem, in light of the rise of generative AI, misinformation and disinformation, and the role of quality information and data in scientific progress and culture. With initiatives including the United Nation’s Global Principles for Information Integrity and the Summit of the Future (September 2024) as context amid debates about how information and data is appropriately attributed and shared, this panel will consider both the international issues and practical concerns about labeling, licensing, and provenance. This session will focus on the balance between legal frameworks and practical guidance.

Programme

09:30-10:00 Arrival
10:00-10:15 Acknowledgement of country
Welcome remarks from OSS and CLM
Objectives for the day
10:15-11:15 Panel session 1: The current state of open data and the role of libraries

Panellists

  • Wendy Wong, Section Head, Scholarly Communications, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Mary Jo Romaniuk – Vice-Provost for Libraries and Cultural Resources and University Librarian, University of Calgary, and Vice-President Canadian Association of Research Libraries
  • Michael Levine-Clark, University Libraries Dean, University of Denver, United States

Followed by: Facilitated discussion to brainstorm challenges in own institution/country
11:15-11:45 Networking break/discussion
11:45-12:45 Morning short talks 

  • Ginny Barbour, Editor-in-Chief, Medical Journal of Australia – open data, indigenous data and journals
  • Lilly Ho, Manager Information Services, Northern Territory Geological Survey, Australia – data strategy for open geoscience
  • Elisabet Rundqvist, Special Advisor, National Library of Sweden – National guidelines for open science
  • Madiareni Sulaiman, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN Indonesia) and PhD Student University College London, Indonesia/United Kingdom – data sharing and PIDs
12:45-14:00 Lunch (at own expense)
14:00-15:00 Panel session 2: Open data and information integrity:

Panellists 

  • Athanasios Giannakopoulos, Chief Librarian and Megs Wacha, Scholarly Communications Officer, UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library (via recording)
  • Elliott Bledsoe, Creative Commons Australia
  • Trish Hepworth, Deputy CEO, Australian Library & Information Association

Followed by: Facilitated discussion to brainstorm challenges in own institution/country
15:00-15:30 Networking break/discussion
15:30-16:20 Afternoon short talks

  • Stephen Wyber, IFLA Headquarters – IFLA advocacy update
  • Helen Balfour, IFLA Copyright Reader
16:20-16:30 Concluding remarks
Early evening Invitation to join social activity (at own expense)

Registration

This event is capped at 50 participants in person. Practitioners and library leaders at all levels are invited to register. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from experts in the field at two panel sessions, and will have the opportunity to contribute to the agenda throughout the day.

This event is free, thanks to the generous support of the State Library of Queensland for providing the venue.