Who Needs the University?

Open Science is often hailed as the Holy Grail of academia, a buzzword that has spread far beyond university walls. At its core, Open Science promotes transparency, accessibility, inclusivity, and accountability in research. This movement is transforming how we conduct, share, and engage with research. Advocates promise a democratization of science, accelerated innovation through open data, and renewed public trust. But does openness inherently lead to better science? Or does it risk undermining quality and shifting power without sufficient safeguards?

As Open Science practices expand, we must consider its impact on knowledge production, education, and the role of universities. Can Open Science change the role universities currently have in our societies, of guardians of knowledge and rigour? If knowledge becomes widely accessible outside academic institutions, what function will universities serve? Could they become obsolete, displaced by the very openness they promote? 
In this debate, we will confront these questions through the central proposition: Open Science makes the university obsolete.

Line-up debaters:

Mira Buist-Zhuk is the Library Open Education Coordinator at TU Delft and is passionate about motivating and supporting academics and learners on their Open journey. She is actively involved in national and European community-led Open Education projects and networks.

Margaret Gold is Coordinator of the Citizen Science Lab at Leiden University, and Network Coordinator of the national network for citizen science practitioners in the Netherlands (Citizen Science Nederland).

Carlijn Kammenga is pre-master student Marketing Management and works as Student Assistant at Open Science Community Groningen (OSCG). 

Gisel Barbieri is PhD candidate in data surveillance practices in scholarly publishing and Open Science Ambassador for Faculty of Philosophy.

Vera Heininga is an Assistant Professor of Resilience in Youth at the University of Groningen who integrates open science and open pedagogy in her work, and serves on several Open Science boards in the Netherlands.

Danila Otavin is a master student of Clinical Neuropsychology and Philosophy, Science & Humanities at the RUG. He also serves as an independent member of the University Council, a Unibuddy Student Ambassador, and is a member of the Program Committee at the Faculty of Philosophy.

The debate will take place under the dedicated guidance of Valeria Cernei, PhD candidate at the Institute for Science Education and Communication, and Tassos Sarampalis, Assistant Professor in Psychology.  

This program is organized to mark the occasion of the fifth edition of the National Open Science Festival which will take place on 24 October 2025 in Groningen. The Open Science Festival is where researchers, support staff, and policymakers come together to explore how open science works in practice and what its benefits are.