In 2018, Open Divide: Critical Studies on Open Access examined the transformation of scholarly communication, questioning dominant narratives and highlighting unresolved controversies. Now, seven years later we, Joachim Schöpfel (Université de Lille, France), Ulrich Herb (Saarland University, Germany), and Niels-Oliver Walkowski (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) launch a twelve-month lecture series as a foundation for a new edition of Open Divide. The three of us are equally responsible for the content of the series and will take turns moderating the individual events.
This lecture series tackles these pressing issues, exploring the role of libraries, sustainability, and long-term preservation. It critically examines competition, commercialization, and governance in academic publishing while addressing equity and the broader impact of open science policies. Alternative models, such as shadow libraries, commons-based publishing, and the Global South’s contributions, offer fresh perspectives on the future of Open Access.
Leading experts from academia, libraries, and publishing will share their insights, offering diverse and critical perspectives on these pressing issues—explore the speakers and their topics below.
We are honored to have such distinguished experts contributing to this lecture series and sincerely thank them for sharing their invaluable insights—our deepest appreciation for their participation. Please take a look at the program, where you will find a registration link for each lecture. Alternatively, you can register for the entire series or select individual lectures via this page: https://unilu.webex.com/webappng/sites/unilu/webinar/webinarSeries/register/c3ae672f863747a2b18feb45bcd7582a.
2025
April
📅 April 23, 2025, 5 pm CEST
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/r21e4a4713e93f01d98a9e4bc873f14c4
📢 Rebecca Bryant, Senior Program Officer at OCLC Research Library Partnership/ Online Computer Library Center, USA
👉 Abstract
📌 Topic: Libraries Supporting Open Research: International Perspectives
Rebecca Bryant explores the strategic significance of open research and the role of libraries in supporting it, based on insights from the OCLC Research Library Partnership.
May
📅 May 28, 2025, 5 pm CEST
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/r4f3808f008263a2e26fd460fe68c6f93
📢 Thomas Parisot (Directeur Général Adjoint Cairn.info, France) & Yann Mahé (Managing Director at MyScienceWork, France)
📌 Topic: Open Science and the Information Industry: French Debates and Insights
An analysis of the French debate on open science, the challenges and opportunities for the information industry, and the impact of open-access policies.
June
📅 June 25, 2025, 5 pm CEST
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/rfbb0ee6b8d7a1157196cd61d253a9316
📢 Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe, Professor & Coordinator for Research Professional Development, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA
📌 Topic: The Sustainability and Stability of Open and Closed Access Publishing
An exploration of the long-term sustainability of open and closed access publishing, considering financial models and scholarly infrastructure.
July
📅 July 23, 2025, 5 pm CEST
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/recaacc502afadf55c9f8bc4f44e5602c
📢 Mikael Laakso, Associate Professor in Information Studies, Tampere University, Finland
📌 Topic: Long-Term Preservation of Open Access Publications: Facts, Current Practices, and Future Outlook
This talk addresses the long-term preservation of open-access publications, discussing current challenges and best practices.
August
📅 August 27, 2025, 5 pm CEST
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/r055b74f1cd3d785edddf72e8c61d56e5
📢 Wolfgang Benedikt Schmal, Competition Economist, Technical University Ilmenau, Germany
📌 Topic: Competition as a Driver of Progress in Academic Publishing
An argument for increasing competition in academic publishing as an alternative to regulatory interventions.
September
📅 September 24, 2025, 5 pm CEST
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/rbf8c77dba4ffd018b30c5c5bc08511d1
📢 Arend Küster, Director of CSIRO Publishing, Australia
📌 Topic: Size Matters: Why Scale is the Key Ingredient for OA Publishers
This talk explores how Open Access challenges small publishers to scale, optimize workflows, and adopt AI to stay competitive.
October
📅 October 22, 2025, 5 pm CEST
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/rd35837e1bd6b2526a3f19c369a8101b1
📢 Wilhelm Peekhaus, Associate Professor in Information Studies, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
📌 Topic: Open Access and the Continued Exploitation and Alienation of Academic Labour
A Marxist perspective on the structures of academic publishing and potential paths for transformation.
November
📅 November 26, 2025, 5 pm CET
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/rf646bc66d043c4c0a873c066c4741910
📢 Sam Moore, University of Cambridge, UK
📌 Topic: Publishing Beyond the Market: Open Access, Care, and the Commons
A critical examination of market-driven open access models and alternative, community-centered approaches to scholarly publishing.
December
📅 December 17, 2025, 5 pm CET
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/r08cc897f355e4874f6cc5ce7298043ce
📢 Zakayo Kjellström, Umeå University, Sweden
📌 Topic: Beyond Institutional Boundaries: Shadow Libraries as Commons and the Future of Knowledge Preservation
An exploration of how shadow libraries enable alternative forms of knowledge preservation and dissemination.
2026
January
📅 January 28, 2026, 5 pm CET
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/r1a8cc50eb710c6e85afeff82832ad1a1
📢 Joachim Schöpfel (Lille University, France), Hélène Prost (INIST – Institut de l’Information Scientifique et Technique, Centre national de la recherche scientifique CNRS, France) & Behrooz Rasuli (Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology, Iran)
📌 Topic: The Global South’s Role in Shaping the Open Science Paradigm
An analysis of the Global South’s role in the open science movement and the impact of open repositories and publishing platforms.
February 2026
📅 February 25, 2026, 5pm CET
Registration: https://unilu.webex.com/weblink/register/r9a762ba7cf870f0de2a2ead23d7a0d43
📢 Kevin Elliott, Red Cedar Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Michigan State University, USA
📌 Topic: The Promise and Perils of Transparency and Openness
This lecture examines the concept of transparency in science, exploring its benefits for innovation, reproducibility, and public trust while addressing its ambiguities, criticisms, and potential paths toward responsible implementation.
March 2026
📅 March 25, 2026, 5 PM CET
📢 TBA
📌 Topic: TBA
(Details not yet available)