Washington, DC: Students and early career researchers are reunited in Washington DC to improve the way research is presented and shared at the OpenCon 2014.
Science must break the tyranny of the luxury journals. The result will be better research that better serves science and society
– R.Schekman, eLife Editor in Chief and 2013 Nobel Prize- winner
OpenCon 2014 is starting today at the American University Washington College of Law. The OpenCon is organized by the Right to Research Coalition, SPARC, students and researchers from different associations and organizations such as the IFMSA, Max Planck Society, Stanford Graduate School of Education,US Student Public Interest Research Groups, US National Association of Graduate Professional Students, Asia Pacific Alliance of Postgraduate Students Association, Emory University, Medsin-UK, Medical Students Aassociations of Kenya, European Federation of Psychology Students, European Council of Doctorate Candidates and Junior Researchers and the American Medical Students Association. It brings together around 120 students and early career researchers from all over the world. More than 1700 applicants from 120 countries showed their interest for attending the conference and for learning more about Open Access, Open Educational Resources and Open Data.
Access to scholarly and scientific research, educational materials and digital data play a crucial role in preparing medical students to practice medicine. IFMSA maintains a policy in support of open access, most recent updated at August Meeting 2014. Many students involved in IFMSA’s NMOs are presenin DC for this important meeting, namely Elizabeth Wiley (USA), Meggie Mwoka (Kenya) , Osman Aldirdiri (Sudan), Ahmed Ogunlaja (Nigeria), Roshan Karn (Nepal), Anamika Karn (Nepal), Arslan Inayat (Pakistan) and Ivana Di Salvo (Italy). Ivana is a member of the OpenCon Organizing Committee.
“Why do you care about Open Access? Is it because of its social impact? Or is it a deeper human rights based value that moves you to be engaged? Find the fire that you have inside, you can’ t just think that Open Access is a good idea. You have to understand it and have to believe in it”
– Heard at the Opening Speech this morning
The first two days (November 15th and 16th) includes workshops, panels and keynotes. You can follow the live webcast at www.opencon2014.org. On Twitter, follow and engage in the discussion using hashtag #opencon2014 and sending tweets @ifmsa. You can also sign up for updates on the meeting at www.opencon2014.org/takepart. The last day (17th) will be an advocacy day and will be not on live webcast.
Entry written by Ivana Di Salvo, IFMSA Liaison Officer for Research and Medical Associations
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