Negotiated Sharing of Pandemic Data, Models, and Resources.

Area of Science:

• Science and Technology Studies
• Sociology of Science
• Pandemic Response

Background:

• COVID-19 necessitates urgent scientific collaboration and data sharing.
• Institutional norms often prioritize competition and proprietary data, hindering open science.
• Existing norms of open data and collaboration are being re-evaluated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how scientific collaboration and data sharing norms are renegotiated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To analyze the impact of institutional arrangements on scientific response to a global health crisis.
• To identify factors that accelerate or impede open science practices.

Main Methods:

• The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a natural experiment to study scientific collaboration dynamics.
• Analysis of institutional norms and their renegotiation in response to a crisis.
• Qualitative assessment of preliminary findings on data sharing and collaboration.

Main Results:

• Political factors can negatively impact open sharing where it's most needed.
• Contests and prizes exhibit surprisingly conservative approaches to collaboration.
• Uncertainty exists regarding the persistence of pandemic-driven collaboration post-crisis.
• Significant potential exists for initiating and maintaining pre-competitive research initiatives.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic is a critical juncture for renegotiating the norms of scientific collaboration and data sharing.
• Findings highlight the complex interplay between institutional norms, politics, and scientific progress during crises.
• There is a need to foster and sustain collaborative initiatives for future scientific endeavors.