Research is a means, not an end.
ORCA’s activities focus on transforming the research landscape to be more open, collaborative, inclusive, efficient, evidence-driven, and trustworthy. We believe that a more intentional and engaging approach to science ultimately benefits not just the academic community, but society as a whole.
A representative sample of our current and recent projects may be found below. Click buttons to filter.
To learn more about our activities, you can also read our annual letters.
Systemic Challenges
Active
Modernizing Academic Appointment & Advancement (MA3)
Few barriers to a more open, engaging, and impactful research environment are as deeply entrenched as the incentive structures that shape academic careers.
Coalition Building
Active
Fostering Innovation through Open Science (FIN)
The Fostering Innovation Network (FIN) is a cross-sector initiative convened by ORCA in collaboration with Microsoft and CERN. FIN aims to identify and test practical solutions to challenges that limit the scientific, societal, and commercial impact of open science, open source, and open data.
Systemic Challenges
Active
Nurturing a Dynamic & Coordinated Data Resilience Community
The long-term availability and usability of research data are increasingly at risk. Funding instability, infrastructure fragility, governance gaps, and political volatility have exposed systemic vulnerabilities across the data preservation and stewardship ecosystem. Resilience depends on more than preserving individual datasets.
Coalition Building
Active
CAP: Open Scholarship Catalytic Awards Program
The Catalytic Awards Program (CAP) advances open scholarship among traditionally under-resourced institutions and communities historically underrepresented in open science.
Systemic Challenges
Active
abreLA: Advancing Biomedical Research & Education in Latin America
ORCA engages in a range of projects designed to ensure that researchers worldwide can participate in, and benefit from, the global scientific conversation. In 2024, ORCA launched a new initiative to improve equitable access to biomedical research and learning opportunities in Latin America.
Coalition Building
Active
Strengthening Civic Science Practice
The Civic Science Fellows (CSF) program embeds early-career practitioners within leading institutions to design and execute civic science initiatives advancing the civic science practice and field across disciplines.
Systemic Challenges
Active
Open Science Policy Program
ORCA is keenly aware that a range of private and public organizations are in need of “white glove service” to help them devise open science policies that simultaneously leverage emerging best practices and are tailored to fit their unique circumstances.
Coalition Building
Complete
Convening the Open Science Dynamic Convergence Workshop
In collaboration with CERN and UNESCO and with the participation of NASA, ORCA hosted 90 researchers, students, policymakers, funders, and others from across 30 countries at a two-day event in Washington, DC. The event, held September 18-19, 2024, highlighted impactful open science activities, explored collaboration opportunities, and identified practical ways to speed up the global adoption of open science.
Systemic Challenges
Complete
MEL: Building a Measurement, Evaluation, & Learning Framework
Measurement, evaluation, and learning (MEL) strategies are critical to advancing open science, assessing impact, refining strategies, and adapting to evolving challenges.
Systemic Challenges
Active
Modernizing Academic Appointment & Advancement (MA3)
Few barriers to a more open, engaging, and impactful research environment are as deeply entrenched as the incentive structures that shape academic careers.
Coalition Building
Active
Fostering Innovation through Open Science (FIN)
The Fostering Innovation Network (FIN) is a cross-sector initiative convened by ORCA in collaboration with Microsoft and CERN. FIN aims to identify and test practical solutions to challenges that limit the scientific, societal, and commercial impact of open science, open source, and open data.
Systemic Challenges
Active
Nurturing a Dynamic & Coordinated Data Resilience Community
The long-term availability and usability of research data are increasingly at risk. Funding instability, infrastructure fragility, governance gaps, and political volatility have exposed systemic vulnerabilities across the data preservation and stewardship ecosystem. Resilience depends on more than preserving individual datasets.
Coalition Building
Active
CAP: Open Scholarship Catalytic Awards Program
The Catalytic Awards Program (CAP) advances open scholarship among traditionally under-resourced institutions and communities historically underrepresented in open science.
Systemic Challenges
Active
abreLA: Advancing Biomedical Research & Education in Latin America
ORCA engages in a range of projects designed to ensure that researchers worldwide can participate in, and benefit from, the global scientific conversation. In 2024, ORCA launched a new initiative to improve equitable access to biomedical research and learning opportunities in Latin America.
Coalition Building
Active
Strengthening Civic Science Practice
The Civic Science Fellows (CSF) program embeds early-career practitioners within leading institutions to design and execute civic science initiatives advancing the civic science practice and field across disciplines.
Systemic Challenges
Active
Open Science Policy Program
ORCA is keenly aware that a range of private and public organizations are in need of “white glove service” to help them devise open science policies that simultaneously leverage emerging best practices and are tailored to fit their unique circumstances.
Coalition Building
Complete
Convening the Open Science Dynamic Convergence Workshop
In collaboration with CERN and UNESCO and with the participation of NASA, ORCA hosted 90 researchers, students, policymakers, funders, and others from across 30 countries at a two-day event in Washington, DC. The event, held September 18-19, 2024, highlighted impactful open science activities, explored collaboration opportunities, and identified practical ways to speed up the global adoption of open science.
Systemic Challenges
Complete
MEL: Building a Measurement, Evaluation, & Learning Framework
Measurement, evaluation, and learning (MEL) strategies are critical to advancing open science, assessing impact, refining strategies, and adapting to evolving challenges.
What can we change together?
ORCA brings people together to tackle the big challenges that stand in the way of a more efficient and responsive research ecosystem. If you’re looking to reshape how research works, we’d love to hear from you.
