Reflections from AIP Publishing’s Open Access Week 2025 webinar
As part of AIP Publishing’s Open Access Week programming, the webinar Who Owns Our Knowledge? Exploring Knowledge Sovereignty in the Age of Open Access brought together experts from research communities in transitioning economies to discuss how nations and communities can strengthen ownership and stewardship of the research they produce. Moderated by Sara Rouhi, Director of Open Science and Publishing Innovation at AIP Publishing, the panel featured Dr. Nokuthula Mchunu (National Research Foundation, South Africa), Dr. Sridhar Gutam (Open Access India), Dr. Ivonne Lujano (El Colegio Mexiquense / DOAJ), and Dr. Arianna Becerril-García (Autonomous University of the State of Mexico / RedALyC). Together, they examined what it means to control how research is created, managed and shared, and how open access can evolve to reflect a broader range of voices and publishing models worldwide.
The conversation explored the tension between global ideals and local realities in open science. Mchunu discussed how historical and economic factors continue to shape who controls research dissemination, calling for more community-based approaches to ownership and access. Gutam described India’s progress and challenges in building national research infrastructure, noting that genuine control over research means “the right to share on your own terms.” Lujano and Becerril-García outlined Mexico’s work to embed open access into national law and policy, emphasizing that legislation must be paired with sustainable systems and local investment to have lasting impact.
Panelists also reflected on how traditional measures of research value, such as the journal impact factor, can reinforce structural imbalances. They pointed to emerging frameworks that recognize the importance of context, transparency, and representation in evaluating scholarly work. While the path toward a more inclusive global publishing landscape remains complex, the group agreed that progress depends on cooperation among researchers, institutions, and publishers to create systems that balance international visibility with local priorities.
The session concluded with a shared call for collaboration and transparency. Speakers urged greater support for open, community-driven platforms; stronger public investment in national repositories and infrastructure; and continued dialogue between the greater and lesser-resourced research ecosystems to redefine how scholarly knowledge is created, shared, and sustained. The discussion reinforced that openness and stewardship are interconnected goals, central to ensuring that research serves the needs of all communities.