This October, Flinders University Library is celebrating International Open Access Week (20–26 October 2025) with a series of workshops and our flagship panel event. Open Access Week is a global opportunity to explore how knowledge is shared, accessed, and valued — and this year’s theme, Who Owns Our Knowledge?, couldn’t be more timely.
What is Open Access?
Open Access (OA) is about making research freely available to everyone, not locked behind paywalls or limited to those with subscriptions. By removing barriers, OA helps ideas reach more people, encourages collaboration across disciplines and borders, and ensures that publicly funded research is accessible to the public.
What’s on during Open Access Week?
Workshops
Throughout the week, the Library will host six short workshops (30 minutes each) designed to give you practical insights into Open Access publishing, research visibility, and tools to support your scholarly communication.
- How to create a Data Management Plan (DMP) for your research project
- Unlocking Open Access: Navigating NHMRC, ARC and Flinders University Policies
- Journals and Read & Publish Agreements: Waive goodbye to article processing charges
- Copyright and open licensing for publishing
- How to publish and promote academic work in the public policy space
- The Open Road: How to make your data Open Access with ROADS
Flagship Event
In Conversation: Open Access, AI, & Who Owns Our Knowledge?
Join us for a lively panel exploring the intersections of Open Access and artificial intelligence. Guided by Library Director Prashant Pandey and MC’d by Associate Library Director Liz Hall, a panel of Flinders University academic guests (to be announced soon!) will unpack the ethical and legal issues of our time.
Expect an informal, engaging discussion designed to spark fresh thinking about the future of research, scholarship, and access to knowledge in the AI age.
Along the way, you can also look forward to:
- ☕ Morning tea with Open Access–themed donuts and cupcakes
- 🎁 3D printed door prizes
- 🤝 Time to connect with colleagues and add your voice to the conversation
Event details
- 📅 Thursday 23 October 2025, 10–11:30am
- 📍 Alere North, The Hub Level 2, Bedford Park (or stream the event online)
- 🎟️ Free to attend — please register here
About the theme
This year’s theme, Who Owns Our Knowledge?, invites us to think deeply about how knowledge is created, shared, and controlled in a rapidly changing world. In an era shaped by AI and new technologies, the theme challenges us to consider not only who has access to research, but also whose voices are recognised, valued, and amplified.