FORM - 2023 : Forum for Open Research in MENA 2023

Bringing together leading international experts and key regional stakeholders, the Annual Forum supports the exchange of ideas and strategies relating to the Arab world’s transition towards more accessible, sustainable and inclusive research and education models.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a source of inspiration across the world, and a driving force to combat inequality and injustice across every sector of society. A key element of this has been the growing prominence of sustainable, equitable practices surrounding science and education. In particular, UNESCO’s Open Science Recommendations have triggered a profound shift in the way we view and practice research, with a growing emphasis on the importance of ensuring responsible and sustainable production, dissemination and use of scientific knowledge for the benefit of everyone.

Global entities such as UNESCO are working with governments and other organisations to spearhead national and international projects focusing on addressing social injustices, climate change, and a host of other issues. However, in order for this vision to be achieved and Open Science to become the global cultural norm, academia needs to embrace the concept and adopt more ‘open’ policies and practices. And that is the focus of the 2023 Annual Forum for Open Research

It is the annual conference for the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM), a non-profit membership organisation supporting the advancement of Open Science policies and practices in research institutions and research communities throughout the Arab world, facilitating the exchange of actionable insights and the development of practical policies. Our Host Partner for this year’s Annual Forum is Khalifa University.

The 2023 Annual Forum will offer a series of carefully tailored presentations and panels addressing the key themes and topics raised during the highly successful 2022 Annual Forum (held in Cairo with the support of UNESCO and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank).

We invite librarians, researchers, policy makers, higher-education institutions, and solutions providers to submit presentation proposals relating to the development and implementation of open science policies and practises, and the building of open science communities, in higher education institutions and libraries.

We are looking for 20 minute presentations, and 10 minute lightning-round presentations. Suggestions for round table discussions and whole panels can also be proposed.

Topics can include but are not limited to:

- Case studies from the Arab world (reflections on the challenges and obstacles, successes and solutions faced by individual insitutions)
- The challenges of localisation and translation – Open Science in Arabic (language and infrastructure challenges)
- Contextualisation of FAIR principles in non-WIRED countries
- How can governments and funders support the transition to open in the higher education system?
- Open Science, Open Data, Open Education and Open Access – developing policies and determining best practises to support sustainability
- Human, physical, digital and political barriers to Open Science
- The rise of community-owned and community-led Open Science infrastructures and publications
- Improving global visibility of Arabic research, researchers, and research institutions via Open Science best practises
- Building and Sustaining Communities of Practices (CoP) in Arabic speaking countries
- Building reproducible, open and interoperable infrastructure in the Global South
- Research assessment protocols and incentives for Open Science
- Digital and human capacity building
- The commercialisation of Open Science
- Promoting Open innovation in the Arab World – when innovation meets entrepreneurship in Open Science
- Open Science projects and initiatives from across the world
- Research and open source software and solutions for Open Science – benefits and challenges
- Preprints, transparent peer review, and open access publishing
- Open access workflows in scholarly communications
- Sustainable development and higher education
- The rise of Open Science predators and how to identify, avoid, and even counteract them

Presentations can be delivered in English or Arabic. There will be a limited number of online-only presentation slots, however preference will be given to speakers who can attend in-person.

Please send proposals (in English or Arabic) of no more than 300 words to the Organisers by the 30th of June 2023. The proposal should include the title of your presentation and a brief outline of the topic, together with your name, professional affiliation, and email address. In addition, please include a short professional biography (of no more than 100 words).

Clearly state whether your proposal is for a 20 minute presentation or a 10 minute lightning round presentation and if you are submitting a proposal for a round table discussion or organised panel, please include information on the topic and all proposed speakers involved. Please also clearly state if you will be unable to attend in person and can only be considered for an online-presentation slot.