300454 Open Access, Open Science in a worldwide comparative perspective (MA: Politische Soziologie) (S) (SoSe 2026)

In recent years, calls for greater openness in the products of science
have become a major topic of debate. These calls refer not only to
publications, but also to data, software, methodologies, and research
processes, including the involvement of actors who were previously not
part of the scientific enterprise. The overarching aim is to make the
products of science more accessible and reusable, both within academia
and beyond. However, these well-intended and ambitious initiatives have
also resulted in shortcomings as well as unintended consequences.

The aim of the seminar is to address this phenomenon from an
international comparative perspective and to examine it across different
levels of analysis. First, the seminar will analyse policy formation and
implementation related to scientific openness in different countries.
Second, it will investigate how scientists have adapted their research
and publishing practices in response to calls for greater openness.
Third, the seminar will focus on unintended and undesirable consequences
that have emerged from the movement toward increased openness.

In terms of format, the seminar will combine discussions of the research
literature with small empirical background investigations and
project-based work conducted by the participants throughout the seminar.
With this focus, the seminar is intended for students with an interest
in (science) policy formation and implementation, as well as in the
study of unintended consequences.