JOINEquity in open research: new microsite establishes principles and best practices for collective action
A new microsite from STM’s Equity in Open Research Task & Finish Group sets out voluntary best practice guidelines, case studies, and emerging data to advance equity across the open research lifecycle – through transparency, accessibility, collaboration, and accountability.
STM’s Equity Statement and OA Equity Statement set out publishers’ commitment to inclusive, accessible research – part of STM’s broader mission to advance trusted research for the benefit of society. This microsite takes that work further, translating those commitments into practical guidance that looks beyond outputs to consider who is able to contribute and whose knowledge is recognised.
The microsite is organised around three principles, giving publishers of all sizes and disciplines shared reference points from which to act, and a common basis from which to observe and improve on progress, recognising that equity means different things in different contexts:
- Ensure comprehensive transparency throughout the research lifecycle — so findings can be discovered, accessed, used, and built upon by anyone
- Enhance participation opportunities and inclusive research practices — supporting multiple pathways for researchers to contribute regardless of affiliation, career stage, or location
- Amplify diverse voices and perspectives to strengthen trust in research — so the scholarly record reflects global knowledge production, not just select communities
These principles are applied across four practice areas: access, open communications, open methods, and open data, each with concrete recommendations and case studies. A fifth section on measuring progress offers a baseline for current practice and outlines what equitable measurement requires — recognising this as an area that will continue to evolve.
Open research policies increasingly recognise that equity is not automatic: structural barriers in infrastructure, incentives, and research assessment shape who can participate and on what terms. Addressing these challenges calls for collective action, and this microsite gives the sector a shared basis from which to do that.
“Committing to equity in open research is integral to STM’s mission. It means looking beyond outputs to who can contribute to research and whose work is recognised. The work doesn’t try to flatten the complexity of what equity means in different contexts. It gives the sector shared principles to work from, and a common way to track whether we’re making progress.” — Sarah Phibbs, Consultant, Equity & Inclusion, STM
Publishers are invited to benchmark their equity in open research reporting against the three principles and draw on the case studies as practical starting points.