OSCER

Terms of Reference

Agreed to March 30, 2023

Name: Open Science Commons Executives Roundtable
Chair: Selected Annually (Currently Mark Leggott)
Meeting Frequency: Quarterly (more frequently as appropriate)
Goal: Facilitate collaboration between Global Open Science Commons

Purpose 

Open Science Commons (OSC), or Open Research Commons, are important providers of research infrastructure and services in the global research landscape, and there is a desire to ensure global OSCs can interoperate and work together to ensure all researchers have access to these resources and services. 

A key element in the success of the development of OSCs is the participation of senior representatives from the relevant organizations.

OSCER provides an opportunity for the OSC organizations to share expertise and best practices to promote the development and use of digital research infrastructure to further progress in the global research ecosystem, and to consider pilot projects to showcase the use of OSC and associated infrastructures in the global research ecosystem.

Objectives

Key Objectives of the OSCER group are as follows (outlined in more detail in the MoU):

  1. Act in cooperation and consult each other regarding matters of common interest.

  2. Inform each other on current and planned activities in which there may be common interest and enter specific partnerships as appropriate.

  3. Keep each other informed concerning projected activities and programs of work that may be of interest to the other Members, including the exchange of information and documents of mutual interest.

  4. Undertake pilot projects and/or the implementation of services that facilitate the interoperability of OSC and associated services or resources.

  5. Collaborate with other organizations (e.g. Expert Member organizations) to promote the discussion and development of global OSCs and related services.

Method of Operation

  1. OSCER meetings are intended as a discussion forum, and specific agreements will be reflected via separate instruments (e.g. the Memorandum of Understanding, specific Project Charters).

  2. OSCER will meet virtually every quarter, and more frequently as needed. Any additional meetings may be called through consultation with the Members.

  3. May create time-limited Working Groups to focus on specific outcomes or initiatives.

  4. OSCER Members may enter into bilateral or multilateral arrangements as may be found appropriate.

  5. OSCER Members will choose a Chair from among the active Members, who will serve as Chair for a period of 1 year. At the final meeting of each calendar year a new Chair will be selected via consensus. A Chair may serve for no more than 2 consecutive terms.

  6. The Chair will provide secretariat support as needed from their organization, or from other OSCER members as agreed to prior to becoming Chair.

Members

  1. OSCER Member organizations are represented by the Chief Executive, or their designate, and membership is for as long as that organization wishes to participate.

  2. Organizations wishing to become Members of OSCER will submit a request to the OSCER Chair, and the Members will decide on the request via email or in person, by consensus. The taxonomy developed by the RDA Global Open Research Commons IG and WG will be used as a rubric to submit/review potential OSCER Members.

  3. If a member steps down before completing their term, their respective organization or community will be consulted when seeking a replacement.

  4. It is estimated that OSCER Members would allocate approximately 4 hours a month.

  5. OSCER Observer Members are representatives of national jurisdictions that are interested in becoming Members of OSCER.

  6. Expert Members are representatives of international organizations that provide services or resources in the OSC context, and are invited to provide their expertise in the development of relevant global OSC infrastructures.  

Membership

  1. National Research Foundation (host of the African Open Science Platform) - Tshiamo Motshegwa

  2. Australian Research Data Commons Ltd. – Rosie Hicks

  3. Computer Network Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Science (host of CSTCloud) - Jianhui Li

  4. Digital Research Alliance of Canada – Mark Leggott

  5. European Open Science Cloud Association – Karel Luyben

  6. La Referencia - Washington Segundo

  7. Academy of Sciences, Malaysia (host of the Malaysian Open Science Platform) - Noorsaadah Abd. Rahman

Observer Members

  1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – Robert Hanisch

Expert Members

  1. CODATA – Simon Hodson

  2. GO FAIR – Barend Mons

  3. Research Data Alliance (RDA) – Hilary Hanahoe

  4. World Data System (WDS) IPO – Meredith Goins

  5. World Data System (WDS) ITO - Reyna Jenkyns

  6. Jean-Claude Burgelman

  7. George Strawn