From papers to experiment

A lot has already happened on the first day of the conference, and the second day should be no less exciting. But as we learned yesterday during our close look at the scientist, scientists like nothing less than idle time.

The first paper session followed the familiar format established the previous day. So, one could still listen comfortably. We started with a deep dive into the realm of social science: In paper Session 5 we examined innovative open science methods for qualitative research and explored open innovation in science through the lens of identity theory. The discussions underscored the evolving methodologies and conceptual frameworks that are currently reshaping the social science research landscape. Questions and feedback from participants with highly diverse research backgrounds highlighted the need to co-develop some common ground for effectively moving forward.

After this intellectual warm-up, it was time to get into action. The OIS Experimentation Session provided participants with a hands-on opportunity to reflect on and engage with the conference theme: Zeroing in on “us”, we collaboratively explored how we can (better) navigate demands for, as well as challenges and opportunities with openness and collaboration. Participants identified strategies and measures that various institutions in the academic realm – such as PhD schools, universities, and research funding agencies – can adopt to support scientists in effectively navigating their evolving, open and collaborative research landscapes. The session provided the OIS research community with room to play with ideas and thoughts, fostering a spirit of open exchange and shared learning.

We were told that after working hard, there is nothing better than to enjoy an exciting debate. And we definitely had an exciting debate with Elaine Chew (King’s College London), Michael Doser (CERN), Chiara Franzoni (Politecnico di Milano), Muki Haklay (University College London), and Markus Perkmann (Imperial College London), moderated by Henry Sauermann (ESMT Berlin), who have approached modern scientists’ challenges from different perspectives.

This left us with two agenda items. The first was paper session 6 where we had a look at translating scientific discoveries into innovation. The session delved into the mechanisms through which scientific knowledge is transformed into patents, the role of secrecy in the innovation process, and the factors that influence the speed of innovation. The presentations highlighted the intricate pathways from scientific research to tangible technological advancements and how openness and collaboration shape this endeavor.

With this, we only had one more intricate pathway ahead of us – jointly celebrate what we have achieved today  To do so, we met at Mercato Metropolitano, an authentic London food market, where we enjoyed street food from all over the world and wonderful discussions with colleagues and friends.

Hopefully there is still enough energy left for the finale tomorrow! We are definitely ready.