Perhaps a little later than normal, but we are extremely excited to announce the programme for the 5^th Annual Forum for Open Research in the Arab World.

This is a special event this year, reflecting the serious nature of the topic. Usually we focus on a broad theme designed to encourage proactive engagement with ever aspect of open science, reflecting the Forum’s purpose as a place for the region’s open science communities to gather together, to learn from each other, to build collaborations and plan for the future. This year, however, against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical tension both within the Arab world and across the globe, we decided to address the ‘elephant in the room’ and focus this year’s event on the challenges which we face as scientists, researchers, librarians, university administrators and policymakers – the challenges with developing and maintaining sustainable and resilient infrastructures in the face of conflict. These challenges do not simply occur during periods of crisis, but extend well beyond – affecting recovery and longer-term development. And they do not merely affect the Arab region: countries in every part of the world are currently facing issues, or have in the recent past, or might in the near future.

We therefore feel it is important to address these challenges, to understand what barriers to open science exist in the specific circumstances surrounding times of crisis and conflict, and their aftermath, and what we – as open science advocates, as regional organisations, and as scholarly communications solutions providers can and should do to overcome to these challenges and ensure the resilience of our research communities.

Our Programme has brought together a range of voices and viewpoints from across the region to discuss these challenges, exchange insights and find solutions – and, while some of the discussions will be difficult, we hope you will all find their insights valuable and thought-provoking.