OIS Research Conference 2024

In an era marked by an unprecedentedly increased body of knowledge, rapid technological advancements and evolving societal needs, the role of the individual scientist is not just expanding but also transforming. Today’s scientists are faced with an increasingly complex set of responsibilities that go beyond their core research activities, but that also significantly impact how they conduct their research itself. Both aspects entail changes in what determines the trajectory of scientists’ careers.

The special theme of the 2024 OIS Research Conference zeroed in on these complexities and particularly highlighted how open and collaborative research practices are both a driving force and a potential solution for managing them. We discussed the nuanced interplay between required capabilities, individual actions and demands from the team, organizational, and societal levels for aligning scientific pursuits with broader societal needs, whilst embracing the expanding role of artificial intelligence in science. In doing so, we aimed to contribute to the broader discourse around the potential and challenges of open and collaborative research practices by centering the discussion on the heart of scientific progress — the individual scientist.

Strong line-up of invited speakers

We had an exceptionally strong line-up of invited speakers who shared their cutting edge thoughts related to this year’s special conference theme.

As a keynote speaker, Brian Uzzi (Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management) critically reflected about human-machine partnerships and their influence on researcher’s integrity as well as how scientists can show the merits of their innovative ideas to others.

The OIS Panel Debate (co-sponsored with AOM TIM Division) featured a distinguished panel of speakers including Elaine Chew (King’s College London), Michael Doser (CERN), Chiara Franzoni (Politecnico di Milano), Muki Haklay (UCL), and Markus Perkmann (Imperial College London). The panelists from disciplines as diverse as medicine, physics, management, citizen science, and innovation engaged in a lively debate about pressing questions related to the individual and organizational requirements for scientists to successfully navigate the dynamic research landscape (e.g., what challenges and opportunities is AI offering? How are career paths shaped by opportunities and challenges arising from open and collaborative practices?).

New feature: Junior Paper Development Workshop

As a new feature in 2024, the conference introduced a Junior Paper Development Workshop, inviting junior scholars (PhD students and post-docs) whose submission was accepted for presentation to receive personalized in-depth feedback from senior scholars.