Interview: Debra Roberts on the True Meaning of Open Science

What does Open Science really mean — and who does it actually serve?

In this episode of the Geoversity Video Podcast, host Jelle Ferwerda (Research Coordinator at ITC) sits down with Professor Debra Roberts, Honorary Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban, South Africa).

Together, they explore Open Science beyond open-access papers and datasets. The conversation dives into questions of power, justice, and inclusion in global research, unpacking why simply “sharing data” is not enough if entire regions and worldviews are excluded from the research process itself.

Professor Roberts shares personal experiences from decades of practice in climate adaptation, discusses the problem of “parachute science”, and explains why meaningful collaboration between the Global North and Global South must start at the very beginning: defining the research questions together.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• What Open Science really means, beyond publications and data
• Why equity and justice are central to global scientific collaboration
• The imbalance between Global North and Global South research systems
• Barriers like publication fees, funding access, and institutional power
• The value of indigenous, local, and practitioner knowledge in science
• How global partnerships can become more equal and inclusive

Don't have time to watch a video? You can also enjoy this podcast episode with only audio! Head over to this page on Geoversity. 

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. In Part 2, Jelle and Debra tackle one of Professor Roberts’ most controversial topics: Climate Overshoot.