September 19, 2023

International Open Access Week is a time to learn more about Open Access by hearing from practitioners and experts.

This year, Drexel University Libraries will celebrate Open Access Week 2023 with four key events, including sessions with Drexel researchers and a special keynote presentation by Nick Shockey, Director of Programs & Engagement for the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC).

All Open Access Week events are free and open to all members of the Drexel community and the public. Registration is required. Visit our events calendar for more details and to register to attend.

Keynote Address: Open Research Policies, Publisher Platforms, and the Future of Scholarship

October 25 | 2 pm - 3 pm 
via Zoom

Featuring Nick Shockey, Director of Programs & Engagement, SPARC 

Following last year's White House announcement that all federally funded research will be made immediately available upon publication, the shift to open research is well underway. How that shift happens is currently being negotiated, and what our systems for research and scholarship look like afterward matters deeply.

This event for International Open Access Week will discuss the latest policy developments related to open research as well as how the largest commercial publishers are responding—and what the implications are for prioritizing community interests over commercialization. The presentation will provide an overview of some publishers' shift to becoming data analytics businesses that provide increasingly integrated platforms for research, with important implications for academic freedom, privacy, and the future of research.

Publishing without Borders: How the Open Access Movement Creates Real-World Impact

October 23 | 12 pm - 1 pm
via Zoom or in person, W. W. Hagerty Library, L33

Presented by Girija Kaimal, EDD, ATR-BC, Assistant Dean for the Division of Human Development and Health Administration & Associate Professor in Creative Art Therapies, College of Nursing & Health Professions

The session will provide an overview of how to publish using open access options and the impact this can have on academic integrity and equity in the availability of research to readers worldwide. Using examples from Dr. Kaimal's own experience of publishing in a range of platforms, attendees can see examples of both the challenges and opportunities in open access peer-reviewed publications. 

Open Access Publishing in Exercise Science Research: Weighing the Pros & Cons

In this session, we will explore the dynamic landscape of open access publishing through the lens of exercise science research. Driven by the experiences and expertise of Dr. Michael Bruneau, Jr., this presentation aims to provide registrants with a comprehensive understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of embracing open access in the field of exercise science and sports medicine. 

Leveraging Open Access and Online Interactive Applications to Disseminate Urban Health Research

October 26 | 9 am – 10 am
via Zoom or in person, W. W. Hagerty Library, L33

Co-Presented by:

• Usama Bilal, PhD, MPH,  MD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology & Co-Director of the Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health
• Josiah Kephart, PhD, MPH, CPH, Assistant Professor, Dornsife School of Public Health

In this talk, Drexel Professors Bilal and Kephart will discuss examples of their research conducted as part of the Salud Urbana en America Latina (SALURBAL) study, one focusing on disparities in life expectancy within and between cities, and one focused on the effects of heat on mortality between cities. They will summarize this research and explain how the use of open access publications and online interactive applications has helped disseminate this work. 

Open Access Resources

• 2023 International Open Access Week website
• DUL Open Access Resource Guide
• DUL Open Educational Resource guide
• SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition)