Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1537460
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 JULY 2025 COMMERCIAL Navigating the open science landscape: From theory to practice WHAT happens when international ex- perts from Serbia and researchers and academics from Malta come together with a shared mission—to make science more open, accessible, and impactful? You get an inspiring, hands-on three-day event that not only sparked ideas but also laid the groundwork for a more connect- ed and transparent future in research. Hosted by MCAST's Applied Research and Innovation Centre (ARIC) at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Tech- nology (MCAST), the workshop, titled "Navigating the Open Science Land- scape: From Theory to Practice (IN- SIGHT)", explored key dimensions of Open Science: Establishing the Founda- tions of Open Science, Building Capaci- ty for Open Science, and Implementing Research Data Management. Topics ranged from developing institutional re- positories—digital libraries of research— to managing data responsibly and en- hancing its global visibility. The sessions equipped attendees with practical tools to make their work more accessible and foster meaningful collaboration across borders. One of the key takeaways was how openness is not just about access—it is also about trust. When researchers share data, publish in open-access jour- nals, and follow responsible practices, it strengthens the credibility and useful- ness of science. Yet, this workshop was not just about policies and platforms. Researchers and academics from MCAST had the oppor- tunity to engage directly with experts from four leading Serbian research insti- tutes: the Institute of Technical Sciences of SASA, the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, the Institute for Biological Re- search "Siniša Stanković," and the Insti- tute for Vegetable Crops. These collab- orations represent a commitment to a future where experts and researchers from different countries can work to- gether seamlessly, united by a shared be- lief that knowledge grows best when it's shared widely. MCAST, through ARIC, is actively con- tributing to this growing movement by supporting the development of skills re- searchers need to engage with Open Sci- ence. As the workshop showed, building a more open research culture is not just beneficial for science—it serves the wid- er good of society by building a strong- er and yet more widespread knowledge base. As a participant in one of the ses- sions graphically put it, "The wheel of progress turns slowly, but every grain eventually falls into place." The workshop series Navigating the Open Science Landscape: From Theory to Practice (INSIGHT) was financed by the Re- search Networking Scheme (RNS) 2024 of Xjenza Malta (GA: RNS-2024-027).