International Open Access Week (OAW), held from 19 to 25 October, is a global opportunity to recognise the value of open, accessible knowledge and the role it plays in supporting innovation, collaboration and informed communities.
This year’s theme, “The Cost of Knowledge”, invites organisations and individuals around the world to champion open access and the benefits of making research and knowledge more widely available.
Open access helps remove barriers to information, broadens participation and supports better outcomes across education, research and public policy.
OAW comes roughly one month after International Access to Information Day (held on 28 September), which also recognises the importance of access to government-held information and the public sector’s role in releasing data and information in the public interest.
This topic was explored at the recent Solomon Lecture delivered by esteemed journalist and media freedom activist, Professor Peter Greste.