Fairly Recognised

Hosted by Sanli Faez

Checking on the Netherlands Recognition and Rewards programme, in conversation with researchers, managers, advisors, and employees. sanlifaez.substack.com

Afleveringen

  1. 10-12-2025

    UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science

    One of the main pillars of the Dutch recognition and rewards program is to stimulate open science. But what does open science mean? Back in 2019, when the program started, open science was still an umbrella term covering many concepts from open access publishing to open source data and software, scientometrics, or citizen science. The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science was the first internationally accepted standard that provided an agreed definition, as well as a set of shared values and guiding principles for open science. The introduction to this recommendation reads: “Open science is a set of principles and practices that aim to make scientific research from all fields accessible to everyone for the benefits of scientists and society as a whole.” This Recommendation was adopted in 2021 by 193 countries, and so set a common standard for what it means to do open science. I was very fortunate to get the chance of recording this interview with Dr. Ana Persic during her visit to the Netherlands for presenting a keynote talk for the national Open Science Festival. She told me how they could reach consensus on a coherent internationally accepted recommendation on such a broad topic, and how she thinks open science can help societies to tackle complex social, environmental, and economic challenges and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sanlifaez.substack.com

    38 min
  2. 07-10-2025

    Are we nearly there yet?

    Dr. Alex Rushforth is a scholar in the fields of sociology of science and science policy, with his research and teaching centered on the areas of research evaluation, bibliometrics, science governance and science and technology studies (STS) more broadly. Alex has recently written a critical commentary about the Netherlands recognition and rewards program. He makes the case that: the initiative has been largely effective in mobilizing formal organizational support from key stakeholders in Dutch research, but significant vulnerabilities remain, particularly regarding uncertain buy-in and implementation by rank-and-file academics - the ultimate implementers of the envisioned changes In this episode we talk also the double role of each academic. The academics are employed by their universities, but they also have a gatekeeping role in what is added to the body of scientific knowledge, and who gets the privilege of having an academic career. For the reform of our evaluation system, we need to make sure that change is happening consistently for both roles. What I also learned from Alex is that it is possible to also look inside the working of committees, even with empathy for their role, that they have to translate all these new evaluation criteria and policy documents into their practices. And our desired change is only realized when their interpretations are consistent with our intentions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sanlifaez.substack.com

    46 min

Info

Checking on the Netherlands Recognition and Rewards programme, in conversation with researchers, managers, advisors, and employees. sanlifaez.substack.com