The Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM) is a non-profit membership organisation supporting the advancement of Open Science policies and practices in research communities and institutions across the Arab world
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a source of inspiration across the world, and a driving force to combat inequality and injustice across every sector of society. A key element of this has been the growing prominence of sustainable, equitable practices surrounding science and education. In particular, UNESCO’s Open Science Recommendations have triggered a profound shift in the way we view and practice research, with a growing emphasis on the importance of ensuring responsible and sustainable production, dissemination and use of scientific knowledge for the benefit of everyone.
Global entities such as UNESCO are working with governments and other organisations to spearhead national and international projects focusing on addressing social injustices, climate change, and a host of other issues. However, in order for this vision to be achieved and Open Science to become the global cultural norm, academia needs to embrace the concept and adopt more ‘open’ policies and practices.
A catalyst for positive action, we work with key stakeholders to develop and implement a pragmatic programme to facilitate the transition towards more accessible, inclusive and sustainable research and education models in the Arab region.
Our goal is to empower libraries, higher education institutions, research councils and policy makers across the Arab world to collaborate on activities, projects and resources that promote engagement with, and the generation of, open research.
Any research institution or research community based within the Arab region that wishes to support our mission can become a member. Membership is free.
Bringing together leading international experts and key regional stakeholders, the Annual Forum provides an arena for librarians, researchers, government policy makers, universities and international experts to discuss and debate key themes and issues relating to the advancement of Open Research across the Arab world. The Forum is held in a different Arab State each year, to enable all researchers, librarians, and Open Science champions to have the opportunity to attend in person (as well as online).
The 2023 Annual Forum will offer a series of carefully tailored presentations and panels addressing the key themes and topics raised during the highly successful 2022 Annual Forum (held in Cairo with the support of UNESCO and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank). And we thank our partners and hosts for their kind and generous support for this year’s event.
The theme of the 2023 Annual Forum is Democratising Knowledge: The evolution of open science ecosystems and communities in the Arab World. We invite librarians, researchers, policy makers, higher-education institutions, and solutions providers to submit presentation proposals relating to the development and implementation of open science policies and practises, and the building of open science communities, in higher education institutions and libraries.
