The College of Liberal Arts invited Dr. Vivien Petras, Professor and Head of the Berlin School of Library and Information Science at Humboldt University of Berlin (HU Berlin), Germany, to deliver a Panda Lecture on May 9 at the Chang Yeo Lan International Conference Hall of the Hsu Shou-Chlien International Conference Center. The lecture, “Open Science and Its Benefits and Challenges: An Overview from the European Perspective,” explored the concept and challenges of open science and the future development of information science.

The Chair of the Department of Information and Library Science, Dr. Wen-Yao Cathy Lin, expressed that through this rare opportunity for exchange, they discussed future collaboration opportunities to enhance research capabilities and international academic visibility. They also hoped to promote exchanges and learning among teachers and students in teaching practices, research fields, and professional learning. Prof. Petras not only possesses rich experience in open science but has also achieved significant accomplishments in technology research areas such as multilingual information retrieval and interoperability of digital libraries. Additionally, she has published numerous vital papers in international journals. Moreover, she has been involved in various research projects, including initiatives to enhance data literacy and the construction of open science databases.

Prof. Petras elaborated on the development of open science in Germany, Europe, and North America, elucidating the discipline's core and major research topics. She emphasized the importance of information science as a relatively young discipline in seeking its positioning in the academic field. She introduced the definition and goals of open science and the latest developments in Europe and Germany, delving into the benefits and challenges of openness.

She mentioned that it was her first time visiting Taiwan and introduced everyone to the founding background of HU Berlin, explaining how the educational philosophy advocated by Wilhelm von Humboldt has influenced modern higher education. Subsequently, she discussed the progress of open science from the perspectives of Europe and Germany, covering the concept of open science, which includes measures and mechanisms such as open access, open research data, open educational resources, and open science infrastructure, as well as the open participation of societal actors.

She further explained the definition of open science, which aims to make scientific knowledge accessible, usable, and reusable in multiple languages to enhance the benefits for both science and society. The core objectives of open science include strengthening the transparency, reusability, inclusivity, collaboration, accountability, and reproducibility of scientific knowledge while accelerating research progress, increasing trust in research outcomes, and reducing inequality. Additionally, research results funded by public resources should be openly accessible to foster interaction within the academic community.

However, Prof. Petras also pointed out that while open science brings benefits such as increased visibility and impact of scientific work, it may also lead to disadvantages such as competitive disadvantages, lack of incentives, or high costs. Additionally, there may be contradictions between openness and quality. Finally, she introduced the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) concept, emphasizing the fundamental values of transparency, inclusivity, and democracy, and stressing how to achieve collaborative cooperation among all parties involved in the scientific research and innovation process.

Accompanied by faculty members from the Department of Information and Library Science, Prof. Petras embarked on a week-long exchange visit to Taiwan. She visited Tamkang University's Chueh Sheng Memorial Library, the Gallery of Tamkang History & the Founder Dr. Clement C.P. Chang’s Memorial Hall. She discussed academic cooperation with the faculty members of the Department of Information and Library Science. She also visited the Science and Technology Policy Research and Informational Center (STPI) to deepen her understanding of Taiwan's academic community. During her stay, faculty members from the Department of Information and Library Science accompanied her to attractions such as Tamsui Old Street, the National Palace Museum, and various landmarks in Taipei City.

Dr. Lin pointed out that open science is currently a crucial issue. It encompasses the openness of academic resources, data, and educational materials, which are essential trends. Europe is leading in this aspect compared to the United States. HU Berlin is the largest university in Germany, offering a complete range of undergraduate and doctoral programs. Prof. Petras's research projects are also related to this area. Through this collaboration, they aim to draw on European experiences to transform school curricula and facilitate future research exchanges.

Assistant Professor Hong-Shiu Liang from the Department of Information and Library Science expressed that open science is crucial to information science. The ability to openly share and exchange data generated during research processes, allowing for reuse, can significantly save individual research time. The speaker used the example of research results on COVID-19 vaccines, demonstrating how they can be quickly and conveniently structured for use by various sectors, which is an excellent illustration. Ming-Li Chen, a doctoral student from National Taiwan University who specifically attended the lecture, praised the speaker's comparative system for organizing open science data, understanding from the perspective of open science policies in Europe and Germany, feeling that Europe is relatively rapid in promoting open science and is worth learning from domestically. Ying-Chen Lin, a first-year graduate student from the Department of Information and Library Science, stated that open science is an ongoing concept that faces both limitations and challenges. Still, it benefits academic researchers and should serve as a driving force.

On May 6, Prof. Petras paid a visit to Tamkang University, accompanied by Dean Chi, Chair of the Chinese Department Shan-Pei Yin, Dr. Lin and Associate Professor Ling-Ling Lai from the Department of Information and Library Science, and Chair of the Department of Mass Communication Ming-Yu Yang for a visit. They visited President Huan-Chao Keh and Chairperson Flora Chia-I Chang, respectively. President Keh and Chairperson Chang respectively presented the Panda trophy and a vase imprinted with calligraphy by Masters Chi-Mao Li and a painting by Master Ben-Hang Chang, featuring Tamkang campus scenery and the school anthem, to Prof. Petras as commemorative gifts. Prof. Petras also presented chocolates as a special gesture of gratitude.

President Keh and Chairperson Chang first extended their welcome and gratitude to Prof. Petras while also explaining the origin of the Tamkang Clement and Carrie Chair initiated by the founders, Dr. and Mrs. Chang. They exchanged views on the "Open Science" theme for this event. Prof. Petras was deeply impressed by her first visit to Taiwan. She highly appreciated the environment of the Tamsui campus, likening it to a park or even a garden. Moreover, she praised Taiwanese cuisine, especially the unforgettable taste of Din Tai Fung's xiaolongbao. She then mentioned plans to visit the STPI, National Applied Research Laboratories, to discuss policies related to open access journals and the "Taiwan Open Access Journals (TOAJ) Platform." There will be opportunities for future visits to various scenic spots in Taiwan, and she expressed her intention to continue promoting and engaging in further exchanges related to "Open Science." Notably, she noted the similarities between her department and the Department of Information and Library Science at Tamkang University, and she is looking forward to more academic interactions in the future.