In the field of research data, developing an international model to enhance interoperability and collaboration has been a key focus. A working group within the Research Data Alliance has been addressing this challenge. Andrew Treloar, Director for International Strategy at the Australian Research Data Commons and honorary fellow at DANS, has been one of the leading figures driving this initiative.
Why another model?
Why is another model needed, one might ask? Open Science requires open access to research data to ensure responsible and reproducible science. Publicly funded research is obliged to make its results openly available, both for scientific integrity—allowing scientific discourse to develop freely and autonomously—and to encourage the use of research results beyond academia. But how can this be achieved in an increasingly networked and globalised landscape with numerous institutions and stakeholders?
The concept of ‘commons,’ defined as the collective use of a shared, limited resource (Treloar & Woodford, 2024), provides a useful framework for establishing a common approach and shared language. A model prevents each collaborative network from having to start from scratch, facilitates the exchange of best practices in Open Science, and provides a reference point for setting standards in effective collaboration.
Structure and impact of the Global Open Research Commons model
The Global Open Research Commons model structures the socio-technical dimensions of research data collaboration. It adopts the perspective of research infrastructures and identifies the key dimensions that must be addressed in such collaborations. Like any effective model, it serves as a heuristic tool: it not only describes a problem and its potential solutions but also encourages deeper reflection before immediate action.
DANS had the privilege of welcoming its fellow, Andrew Treloar for a lecture on the Global Open Data Commons. If you want to know more about this topic, have a look at the slides here.
Lorentz workshop
Would you like to hear Treloar speak yourself? Together with Charles Woodford and Laurents Sesink from SURF, he organises the Lorentz Workshop Making the Global Open Research Commons Truly Global, scheduled for July 21–25, 2025.
Lorentz Workshops are typically by invitation, as they provide an opportunity for experts to work intensively on a specific topic for a week. However, the Lorentz Center encourages openness and visibility. If you are interested, do not hesitate to reach out to the organisers. The workshop results will be publicly shared, so stay informed!
For more details on the workshop, visit: Lorentz Workshop. For an in-depth article on this topic, see: Data Science Journal.
