Photo: Lenni Lilja
In her doctoral dissertation in administrative sciences and science studies, MSc Erika Lilja examines how open science policy is implemented in the everyday practices of research and what kinds of ethical, institutional and practical challenges researchers encounter in its implementation. In science policy, open science is presented as a key means of enhancing the quality, transparency and societal impact of research, yet researchers’ experiences reveal tensions between policy objectives and the realities of research work.
The dissertation shows that researchers broadly support the principles of openness, but often experience feelings of powerlessness, unclear incentives and ethical dilemmas. The study introduces the concept of policy alienation to science studies and proposes a new typology of researchers’ ways of responding to open science policy. The findings emphasise responsible, context sensitive and ethically considered openness, in which researchers’ expertise, disciplinary differences and shared responsibility for openness in science are central. The results offer important insights for science policy, research organisations and research funders in Finland and internationally.
The doctoral dissertation of Master of Social Sciences Erika Lilja titled Beyond Compliance: Exploring Responsible Openness in Science by will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Management and Business, Tampere University, on Saturday, 25 April 2026.
The Opponent will be Professor Lai Ma (University College Dublin, Ireland). The Custos will be Docent Reetta Muhonen (Tampere University).