Open Science from a technology assessment perspective

On the notion, societal embedding, and possible developments of a ubiquitous concept

Abstract

This contribution approaches the topic of Open Science from the perspective of preparing and laying the conceptual foundations for a comprehensive technology assessment study. Four dimensions of the concept of openness in science and research are distinguished: open access, public communication, cooperation, and transgression of societal subsystems. Furthermore, a reasonable delimitation of the object of research is proposed, which would form the basis of such a TA study. A short description of the status quo in three typical Open Science arenas (open access, open peer review, and scientific networks) is followed by putting four scenarios of the future development of Open Science up for discussion.