Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures of the Republic of Lithuania
Curriculum Vitae Ombudsperson agendaOn June 19, the final event of the OPUS (Open and Universal Science) project was held at the Research Council of Lithuania, bringing together researchers, representatives of scientific institutions, policymakers, and experts from various fields to discuss the advancement of a more open scientific culture. The topics covered during the event highlighted how community leadership and practical solutions can contribute to the creation of a more transparent, ethical, and accessible research environment.
The Office was invited to provide insights and recommendations on data management plans (DMPs), with a focus on ensuring that research practices align with the principles of academic ethics. Dr. Eglė Ozolinčiūtė, Senior Analyst at the Office, presented an annex to the Guidelines for Compliance with Research Ethics – a sample template for data management plans. She discussed in detail the main structural components of the document, which were developed in 2022 by an expert working group initiated by the Office.
The event also featured a presentation of the DMP form developed by the Research Council of Lithuania in 2016. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess how the structure of the earlier form aligns with the new version proposed by the Office, highlighting its strengths and identifying potential improvements to enhance clarity and effectiveness at the national level. The presentation included pseudo-anonymized examples from real research projects, which helped illustrate how detailed and transparent planning can improve research efficiency, consistency, and integrity.
Within the broader context of open and universal science, the role of citizen science was also emphasized. According to ESCA (n.d.), one of the core principles of citizen science is accessibility: “Citizen science project data and metadata are made publicly available, and results, where possible, are published in open-access formats.” Dr. Eglė Ozolinčiūtė encouraged participants to explore the ethical dimensions of citizen science, presented relevant academic ethics guidelines for such projects, and drew attention to potential violations—particularly those related to the use of artificial intelligence.
The discussions stressed the importance of aligning citizen science practices with the 10 Principles of Citizen Science, ensuring that participation in research is both active and responsible. Further conversations explored the potential of artificial intelligence and its role in citizen science as well as in shaping new science communication guidelines.
The event served as a significant step toward advancing open science in Lithuania, encouraging the research community to further embrace the values of openness, responsibility, and transparency.
Read more about the event: https://lmt.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/lmt-organizavo-opus-projekto-baigiamaji-rengini-bendruomenes-lyderyste-ir-kryptingas-zingsnis-link-atviresnio-mokslo-kulturos/
