Radboud Open Science Inspirator: Jeanette Mostert

"Open Science isn’t just a nice extra—it’s how we should be doing research today. Publishing open access? Yes. Sharing data? Absolutely. Explaining your research to a wider audience in a way they can understand? That’s part of it too. But we’re not quite there yet. I often compare the university to a container ship: if you want to change its course, it’s a slow process, full of creaks and groans. Not just because it’s such a cumbersome structure, but also because of who’s in the wheelhouse. The people at the top have little incentive to change. They’ve been doing research their way for decades and are often not eager to steer in a new direction. The younger generation does want to change things, but often lacks the time or resources to do so.

Fortunately, things are starting to shift. Open access and data management are now fairly well embedded—partly because funders increasingly require them. But when it comes to public engagement, it gets trickier. For me, outreach to society is truly an essential part of Open Science. During my PhD (2011–2016), I explored all sorts of outreach: I organised an open day, launched the Donders Wonders blog, and took part in science battles where you present your research on stage. After my PhD, I managed outreach for a large EU project.

The younger generation does want to change things, but often lacks the time or resources to do so

I believe researchers have a responsibility to feed back to society. What are you researching, and why does it matter? Published a new paper? Write a short, accessible summary or make a short video. Share it on your website or social media. To me, that’s really the bare minimum. The next step is engaging in dialogue with the people your research is relevant to—schoolchildren, policymakers, patient organisations, neighbourhood groups, you name it. Show them what you’ve found, ask for their views, and find out what they think is still needed. You might even co-create research together. Yes, it takes time—but it also yields valuable insights. An inspiring example is the work of my colleague Martine Hoogman. Prompted by a question from the ADHD community, she’s researching the positive aspects of ADHD. Her entire line of research has emerged from society itself.

At present, I think the burden of building relationships with society rests too heavily on the individual researcher. A project might provide a bit of funding for co-creation, but projects are temporary. From personal experience, I know that building a relationship with, for example, a patient organisation takes much longer. We need to make this more structural and organise it on a larger scale—from within research groups or departments. Not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of research. Universities and funders really need to start thinking differently about this. How, exactly? I haven’t yet found the golden formula either."

Jeanette’s Open Science Tip

Take a moment to consider: who might you want to speak with about the outcomes of your research? Who could benefit from it? And how can you reach them? Try contacting your communications department—they’re often more than happy to help you make your research visible and understandable to the right audience.