Special Lecture on Open Access Week 2021@DLIS CUTN

Dear All,

This is to inform you that Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu has organized a special online talk as part of the Open Access Week 2021 on 30th October, 2021 (Saturday) through Google Meet. Dr. Sridhar Gutam, Senior Scientist in ICAR-IIHR and working group member, Open Access India was invited as the speaker and he delivered the talk on “Building Structural Equity with Open Access”. The program commenced with a welcome address given by Dr. Akhandanand Shukla, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Library and Information Science, CUTN, Thiruvarur followed by a brief introduction of the resource person by Dr. S. Ravi, Professor at Department of Library and Information Science, CUTN.

Dr. Sridhar Gutam started his talk with explaining the importance of open access and why science has to be open in this era. He continued with a brief explanation of the current landscape and history of open access and open science. He introduced this year’s International Open Access Week theme “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity” which highlights the individual and collective action required in our approach, decisions, actions, and investments in knowledge sharing to ensure that equity is foundational. He talked about their goal of sustainable development force to achieve soon by attaining access to information for everyone. He went on to talk about the data-information and knowledge cycle, how open access is about scholarly communications and librarians’ roles in making scholarly communication happen. He continued explaining how this will only be possible not only through access to information, but also through open innovation, open metrics to find how science is progressing, access to methods, open infrastructure etc. He emphasized on the role of preprints in rapid dissemination, about their characteristics, pros and cons, their status etc. Then he gave us an insight into the free culture work approved licenses. He elaborated on copyright in research and academic publications and their vital role in open access. An active Q& A session took place thereafter where Dr. S. Ravi, Dr. Akhandanand Shukla and Dr. Anila Sulochana also expressed their views and concerns regarding open access.

The lecture was coordinated by Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur and attended by 36 participants. The lecture session ended with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Anila Sulochana. Ms. Nayanthara S., Research Scholar, worked as the rapporteur in the program. The glimpses of the program are given below:

Department thanks to all who attended the program successfully and shared their valuable time with us.

Thanks.