AccessLab: Workshops to broaden access to scientific research

Abstract

AccessLabs are workshops with two simultaneous motivations, achieved through direct citizen-scientist pairings: (1) to decentralise research skills so that a broader range of people are able to access/use scientific research, and (2) to expose science researchers to the difficulties of using their research as an outsider, creating new open access advocates. Five trial AccessLabs have taken place for policy makers, media/journalists, marine sector participants, community groups, and artists. The act of pairing science academics with local community members helps build understanding and trust between groups at a time when this relationship appears to be under increasing threat from different political and economic currents in society. Here, we outline the workshop motivations, format, and evaluation, with the aim that others can build on the methods developed.

Using Regression Trees to Find the Factors Influencing the Level of Knowledge about Fertility and the Diet That Supports It among People Dancing in Max Dance Studio in Białystok

“…In a study by Mu et al, a higher level of knowledge about fertility was associated with a lower number of subjectively assessed risk factors for infertility-related diseases (Mu et al, 2019). Even though a study by Griffiths et al (2019) states that the number of Open Access scientific articles is increasing, access to scientific articles for people who are not employees or students of medical universities is still limited (Griffiths et al, 2019). The main barriers for scientists to publish publicly have been the high fees and the low level of prestige of journals (O'Hanlon et al, 2020).…”