BC Library Conference 2020

Science and society are inextricably linked. Science touches our lives in so many ways: for example, we may wonder about the best way to lose weight, the safest treatment for multiple myeloma, or which pesticides are safe to use in the garden. And many wonder what kind of world we’ll leave for future generations. Our reliance on science makes trust in the reliability of that science and in the ability of policy makers to leverage it extremely important.

Just as Open Science hinges on transparency, accessibility, and replicability in the research process, its success as a movement relies on open dialogue and respectful engagement across research disciplines. Two fundamental questions drive this approach: (1) who will be impacted by scientific research?; and (2) how can we mobilize science to help create a more equitable society? Scientists of the future need to explore these questions throughout their education, long before they enter the field as professionals. For this reason, UBCO Library is partnering with the Department of Biology to engage undergraduate students not only in learning scientific methods, but also in co-creating a model of high-quality, transparent Open research that is respectful of the diverse stakeholders affected by academic research. We'll discuss the relationships we’ve forged with the Department of Biology and the specific course modules we plan to integrate into the undergraduate classroom.