The American Geophysical Union (AGU), an organization committed to the advancement of science, celebrates the Year of Open Science with a resounding commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and accessibility in scientific research. Following the declaration of 2023 as the Year of Open Science by the White House, AGU has chosen the theme "Wide. Open. Science." for its flagship event, AGU23, scheduled to take place from December 11 to 15, 2023, in San Francisco.
For more than a century, AGU has been dedicated to promoting open science, fostering innovative pathways to discovery, and advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the scientific community. With the Year of Open Science in full swing, AGU reaffirms its commitment to these principles, while also recognizing the need to expand scientific participation and access to research on a global scale.
“Wide. Open. Science.” is more than just a theme for AGU23; it reflects AGU's steadfast belief in the power of open science to transform not only the publication landscape but also data sharing, education, policy, and more.
As a leading publisher in the scientific community, AGU has actively championed open access initiatives. Over the past decade, AGU has successfully transitioned numerous journals to open access, providing unrestricted access to articles for readers worldwide. A total of 10 out of 23 AGU journals are now fully open access, and more than half of all journal articles are made available through open access upon publication. This shift has led to increased readership and citations, fostering a collaborative and accessible research environment.
AGU wholeheartedly embraces the FAIR principles: findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. These principles guide AGU's initiatives to make data and digital objects accessible and reusable, while simultaneously ensuring privacy, proper crediting, and sensitivity to communities affected by scientific practices.
AGU extends its commitment to open science beyond publishing. The Thriving Earth Exchange, established by AGU in 2013, connects communities with scientists to collaboratively address local challenges related to hazards, climate change, and natural resources. This initiative has led to over 250 projects worldwide, fostering both community engagement and scientific collaboration.
AGU offers various opportunities for scientists to contribute to the broader community, from the Congressional Science Fellows program, which places scientists in roles on Capitol Hill, to the Voices for Science program, which trains scientists in effective communication with policymakers and other audiences.
AGU's commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists remains unwavering. Initiatives such as Mentoring365, the Bridge Program, and the AGU LANDInG Academy aim to support students, early-career researchers, and aspiring diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders in the geosciences.
As AGU continues to celebrate the Year of Open Science, they invite the global community to join the conversation on the essence of open science by following #AGUOpenScience on social media platforms. In the coming weeks, AGU promises to share valuable information, inspiring stories, and thought-provoking testimonials that will further ignite discussions on the transformative power of open science.
Click here to read the original press release.
