Evaluating Excellence: Academic Assessment and the Open Science Transition

In recent years the methods, criteria, and processes through which the quality, impact and value of academic work are evaluated and measured have come under increasing scrutiny. Academic assessment methods in virtually all fields have focused on quantitative metrics such as publication counts, journal rankings, and h-index scores, but initiatives such as the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment and DORA (the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment) have been advocating for the diversification of evaluation methods and of the outputs which are valued. 

Dr. Kelly Cobey, co-Chair of DORA, will discuss the relationship between reforming academic assessment and supporting open science, including outlining the current context of national and international initiatives and upcoming projects and resources at DORA. What are the next steps for transitioning to open science practices in Canada and how can institutions best support this transition in a context of limited resources? What forms of researcher assessment effectively recognise and reward excellence in open science practice? What tools and initiatives can researchers and institutions connect with to help with this work? In addition to delivering a presentation, Dr. Cobey will explore these questions in discussion with Dr. Nicolás Alessandroni, FRQSC Postdoctoral Fellow at the Concordia Infant Research Laboratory and co-Chair of the Concordia Open Science Working Group, and attendees. 

This talk is the third event in the Evaluating Excellence: Rethinking Academic Assessment speaker series co-sponsored by the OVPRGS and the Provost’s Office. The series aims to provide a platform for insightful discussions and practical advice about the evolving landscape of academic assessment and inclusive excellence. It will feature prominent leaders in academia, policy, and academic administration who are at the forefront of driving this transformation. 

Lunch will be served onsite at 12pm, and the event will begin at 12:15pm.

How can you participate? Join us in person or online by registering here or by watching live on YouTube.

Have questions? Send them to info.4@concordia.ca

Dr. Kelly Cobey

Dr. Kelly Cobey is a Scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute where she directs the Metaresearch and Open Science Program. She is also an Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa. As a trained social psychologist Dr. Cobey brings her mixed-methods research approach to her program which addresses topics including: how to implement and monitor open science; how to increase the reporting quality of research; and how to better engage patients and the public in research conduct and dissemination. At present she serves as co-chair of DORA (Declaration On Research Assessment) where she works with the international science policy community to raise awareness of the need for research assessment reform. 

Nicolás Alessandroni

Nicolás Alessandroni is an FRQSC Postdoctoral Fellow at the Concordia Infant Research Lab led by Dr. Krista Byers-Heinlein, where he conducts research on open science and infant developmental psychology. He is a founding leader of the Concordia Open Science Working Group and has extensive experience in collaborating with open science communities and projects in Latin America, Europe, and North America. His work has resulted in articles offering practical strategies for implementing open and reproducible workflows that have been published in open-access journals such as Collabra: Psychology and Royal Society Open Science. Nicolás has received awards and recognitions specifically related to open science and has delivered invited talks and training workshops internationally.

Organized by Concordia’s Office of the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies and Office of the Provost and VP, Academic.

Funding for this series is provided by the Canada Research Chairs Program Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Grant.