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A student perspective on Big Team Science: Pathways to open science

Hazan, Tomer; Haney, Priscilla; Zlotnik, Ethan; Alessandroni, Nicolás

Abstract

As Big Team Science (BTS) reshapes how research is conducted, it is also transforming how students learn to do science. While BTS has been widely recognized for its methodological contributions, its pedagogical potential—particularly as a gateway to Open Science—remains under-examined. This student-led lightning talk uses BTS as a case study to explore how students can be meaningfully introduced to Open Science practices and ultimately thrive in applying them. We reflect on BTS as a training context where participation is distributed, learning is experiential, and collaboration is foundational. Drawing on firsthand experience with ManyManys 1—a large-scale collaboration investigating comparative cognition across animal taxa—we identify five key ways BTS is changing the future of research training: it expands access through global networks, invites students to contribute to shaping research decisions, exposes them to more inclusive and representative forms of science, fosters reflection on the conceptual foundations of scientific practice, and accelerates the development of Open Science habits through active, hands-on participation. BTS offers more than technical skill-building; it supports identity formation, critical thinking, and a deeper sense of belonging grounded in the ethos of Open Science.

Full text

A Student Perspective on Big Team Science: Pathways to Open Science Tomer Hazan, Ethan Zlotnik, Priscilla Haney, & Nicolás Alessandroni Concordia University (Department of Psychology) Montréal, QC •I have worked in traditional lab settings •I was later introduced to BTS, ManyMany’s 1 and to my fellow undergrads Ethan and Priscilla, under the supervision of Nicolas. •We identified five key ways BTS benefits students, including fostering open science implementation My experience of joining a Big Team Science (BTS) project 5 Ways BTS is Changing the Future of Student Research Training Access To global, collaborative networks Democratization Agency Having the power to shape research Equity Inclusion Of more representative population Diversity Reflection Incorporating diverse perspectives Collaboration OS practice Integrating open science in all stages of the research cycle Transparency & reproducibility The Road Ahead 01 BTS helps build well-rounded scientists 02 BTS is an expension—not a replacement—of traditional labs 03 Students in BTS = Better conditions for the research ecosystem Thank you! Tomer Hazan, Ethan Zlotnik, Priscilla Haney, & Nicolás Alessandroni Concordia University (Department of Psychology) Corresponding authors: •[email protected] •[email protected] •[email protected] Supported by: