Important negotiations regarding the sharing of genetic data from biodiversity are taking place this year in the context of 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The outcome of these negotiations could shape how researchers are able to access and share genetic data for decades to come.
The DSI Scientific Network and a number of major research organizations from around the world have published an Open Letter calling for a policy solution that will preserve open data sharing and promote biodiversity research, while increasing benefit-sharing for countries of origin. The letter has already been signed by over 400 researchers, with the list growing each day.
From climate change, to biodiversity loss, to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, researchers must to be able to collaborate across borders and to share their data. Major international organizations, including UNESCO, have aligned solidly behind the principles of open science, which stress the importance of unfettered access to scientific knowledge for all. Open science, however, must be achieved in a way that values diversity and shares the benefits of research equitably.
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