Nadim Khan - OpenCon 2017 Srinagar

I am an Assistant Professor at the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Kashmir. Since the beginning of my career in 2007, I have been advocating for Open Access with my colleagues by sensitizing stakeholders about its usefulness through seminars, workshops and training programmes. I am actively involved in designing and managing the first Open Access repository Knowledge Repository Open Network (KNoor) of prominent institutes of J&K using dspace. I am currently working on project called “Evaluation of Open Educational Resources Repositories” to further strengthen my understanding of the benefits of Openness. I hope to make OpenCon satellite events a regular event in India, particularly in J&K state at different educational and research institutes (e.g. University of Kashmir, Central University of Kashmir, Jammu University, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences) to further support Open Access, Open Data, and Open Education.

Sajid Iqbal - OpenCon 2017 UET Lahore

I am an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechatronics & Control Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore. I have been promoting Open Movement: Open Education, Open Data, and Open Access through seminars, workshops and social media since 2014. During Open Education Week 2017, I have conducted an awareness seminar on open education at my department. On May 07, 2017, in the DAWN I have highlighted current online education.

I worked with Maliha Bakshi, Misbah-ur-Rehman, Ammad Hassan Khan, and Waqar Mahmood to organize 'OpenCon 2017 UET Lahore'. The workshop provided us a platform to exchange the best practices in the implementation of open systems. God Willing, we will also host satellite events in 2018 and connect with more peers for the Open cause.

Mahmoud AbuAlSamen - OpenCon 2018 Just

I am the founder of PharmaTekton Research Group (PRG) at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. I am an instructor and a trainer in research. Three years ago, I started advocating for open education to all people from all backgrounds in Jordan. Currently, through my work with PRG, I am able to provide people their basic kit of knowledge and skills for gaining access to research and bridging the gap between science and Open culture in the region. I have hosted the first satellite event for OpenCon in Jordan and the region and efforts are being put to bring more faculty, students and people together. I have a strong belief that science cannot be taught without Open culture.

Barakat Tiamiyu - OpenCon 2017 Ife 

I am a bachelor degree student at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, studying Urban and Regional Planning, I have taken different roles that involve the use of data, and most times accessing it is difficult. As a Project Assistant, for Saving One Million Live Projects and also tracking funds meant for local communities, I understood the need for an open society with open access and open data that contributes to knowledge driven initiative. A few months ago, I realized that undergraduate and most post graduate research work which are indigenous in nature, are given little or no attention but only considered as a prerequisite for the award of a degree, because of lack of a system that makes them open. This lead to my hosting of OpenCon 2017 Ife, with the theme, "Advancing open research works of students in Nigeria tertiary institution". 

Faith Chelagat - OpenCon 2017 Nyeri

An Open Access Advocate. I am currently working with an international organization as a knowledge management assistant.I have a Bachelor of Science in Information Science.I belong to a team of five young information professionals who are passionate about open access and its contribution to making a better world.During our satellite event this year we aspire to bring together young professionals across all fields and librarians to create awareness on open access,open data and open educational resources.We purpose to build a community that will steer open access in Kenya and across the world

Yves Valery Obame - OpenCon 2017 Yaoundé 

I am a teacher in the Government Teacher’s Training College (GTTC) in Cameroon, member of the Cameroonian Laboratory for Studies and Research on Contemporary Societies (CERESC) of the University of Yaoundé I and I am preparing a Ph.D. in Sociology. I was co- organizer of an Open Conference held at the University of Yaoundé I on December 14, 2017. This event was a real success in terms of participation and a challenge for the organizers, held for the first time at the first state university in Cameroon. It is for me and the other co- organizers of this event a cause for pride. Especially since I personally discovered the open perspectives (Access, Education, Data, Science) quite recently but whose vision and objectives are in line with this work of awareness, through my teachings, that I lead with my students and students from universities in Cameroon and developing countries on the need for equal and free access to knowledge.

Henok Mekonnen - OpenCon 2017 Jimma 

Henok is a Lecturer in Jimma institute of Technology, Jimma University. He has been engaged in teaching, research activities, participation in local and international collaboration projects and voluntary activities. He graduated from Jimma University in Mechanical Engineering, in 2007 and he received his MSc. Degree in Thermal Engineering from Addis Ababa University in 2012. He served an office called “Academic Quality Assurance, Reform, Community Based Education and Internship coordinator” of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Henok is currently a PhD. candidate and his research topic is “CFD Modeling of Coffee Husk Fluidized Bed Gasification”. He is an advocate of Open Access, Open Data and Open Education, and he is very enthusiast to share knowledge and collaborate in Science and Research through online platforms.

Erika Mias - OpenCon 2017 Cape Town

I am a digital curation officer at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Digital Library Services (DLS) department. After graduating from my BSc degree in 2003 I was dismayed at the fact that with immediate effect I could no longer access current publications and research without paying massive subscription fees directly to journals at great personal cost or paying a substantial annual academic library fee. This remained the case until I rejoined the university environment in 2015. My colleagues in the library presented on their Open Con 2015 experience and I was immediately interested in participating in this movement. Along with colleagues at the University of Pretoria and North West University, we organised the first collaborative "Open Data” in day across three institutions in 2016. We hosted the second OpenCon satellite event in Cape Town in 2017.

Felix Nartey - OpenCon 2017 Kumasi

I am a Co-founder of Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA), an open activist and a fanatic of technology. My work in the open space spans Wikipedia, Mozilla, Creative Commons and Open Street Maps. I use and share my knowledge on open resources and tools on a daily basis. For me its the only way we are assured of improving education, providing real time information, removing barriers in acquiring knowledge and to provide an equal means of access. Open is powerful and can promote fairness, competition, transparency and equality on the internet, however the awareness or even the sheer understanding of the concept is lacking. This is why I have put myself up to the task to reach as many as I can through my organization (OFWA) and networks.

James Obi-Assam - OpenCon 2017 Calabar

I am a Civil Engineering graduate and serving Corps Member (NYSC) in Nigeria. I volunteer as an Open Knowledge Advocate/ Educator for Reach-Out Integrated Africa's Open Corps programme. In the course of my undergraduate research I came to realise the importance of Open and accessible scholarly research data, after searching thoroughly and finding nothing significant. This led to my pursuit of building a recognised repository for undergraduate research in the country. I believe openness is the pathway to a more advanced and integrated society, and I have set out to ensure more individuals and communities see its importance - through campaigning at the grassroot levels. I hope to host more satellites in the future and get others to build on the momentum.

Bisaso Samuel - OpenCon 2017 Mbarara

I am a Masters student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology majoring in Health information Technology. I am the founder of the OOO Uganda Research Network, with an aim to support local students, researchers, and librarians to advance open access, open education, and open data in their institutions. I first learned about Open Access when he participated in an online course with Athabasca University in Canada and UNESCO “2015 UNESCO Media and information literacy Course”. I believe that Open Access allows us to use new technologies of the internet which gets everyone access to data from publicly funded research and not keeping this knowledge behind expensive paywalls.

Humphrey Mutuma - OpenCon 2017 Juja

I am a logistics and supply chain management student waiting for graduation. I am also a youth leader working with Youths for Youths Network, a youth-led organization that envisions a country where youth have guaranteed opportunities that enable them to exercise their right to education, health, livelihood and social security. One of the key reasons for the existence of our organization is the right to education. Our interest in collaborating with OpenCon resulted from its support on Open Education, Open Access and Open Data. I thank my team for their tremendous effort and dedication without it we won’t have been in a position to host this year’s OpenCon satellite event here in Kenya. I also thank OpenCon for their dedication in promoting the right to research across the globe.

Raphael Berchie - OpenCon 2017 Accra

I am the co-founder of Open Foundation West Africa (OFWA), an open source activist and advocate. My work in the Open space spans Wikipedia, Mozilla, Creative Commons and Open Street Maps. I am an active editor for Wikipedia, and an active promoter of Creative Commons. I believe that education holds the potential of turning the world around and this can be realized through Open Education and Open Access, along with good internet infrastructure. In most of my work, I try to bridge the gaps in the Global South so as to help realize the goal of making human knowledge affordable and accessible.

Justin Ahinon - OpenCon 2017 Parakou

I'm Justin Ahinon. I'm 19 and I'm a student in mathematics statistics and probability in Bénin. I'm passionate about new technologies, computer programming and I love artificial intelligence. I also have a big interest for open access, open science and free access to data. And I try to make these notions known through the Open Science Club parakou that I manage.

Albéric Dèhouégnon - OpenCon 2017 Parakou

I'm Albéric Dèhouégnon AZONGANHOUE. I study Social and economics statistics at university of Parakou in Bénin. I discover recently open science and open access notions and I believe these notions can impact positively the young people because I understand that Open Science is most important for local development. So, I militate in Open Science Club Parakou for making known open access, free access data concept.

Khali Allahmagani - OpenCon 2018 KASU

My Name is Khali Allahmagani, I am an academic Librarian working in Kaduna State University, Nigeria. I am passionate about open access because it makes information readily available to my patrons, the can keep abreast with latest development in their area of research interest without any restriction. Open access also make researchers in developing country have resources that are free from subscription fees. Educating my patrons to adopt open access journals publishing would advance research globally. My client as well as my institution would be more visible. Currently, I am working on organizing workshop for student, lectures and other researcher with the theme Open Access for Advancing Scholarly Publications among Scholars.

Andreiwid Corrêa - OpenCon 2017 Campinas

Natalia Norori - OpenCon 2017 Costa Rica

I am a medical student at Universidad Latina in San Jose, Costa Rica. I promote Open Data in the healthcare sector for development and prevention of public health outbreaks through research and advocacy. I am currently the Request System Manager for the Open Access Button, and even though this job has let me advocate and interact with researchers around the globe, it has also brought to my attention many problems in scholarly communication.

I believe that open is the solution to problems being faced not only in academia, but society as a whole. It is important to maintain an horizontal multi stakeholder model in which academia, civil society and the government collaborate to increase access to information. I also lead workshops and organize conferences both locally and internationally that serve as discussion spaces to make open the default option. 

I worked with Diego Gomez Hoyos, Luisa Ochoa and Meilyn Garro to organize OpenCon 2017 Costa Rica. 

Ricardo Hartley - OpenCon 2017 Santiago

I believe that education and information are two basic elements to consider in the development of society. Therefore, the adequate access to them, free and with opportunities of improving, are a must especially in Science. I have been working in University accreditation in parallel with my Biological Sciences studies, and i believe that we need to change how we rate the productivity in science, draw attention to the importance of using preprints, and work to remove paywalls in order to advance into a more fair society.

Anderson Pierre - OpenCon 2017 Haiti

I am studying social communication at the State University of Haiti. I am also secretary of the Réseau des jeunes bénévoles des classiques des sciences sociales en Haïti (REJEBECSS-Haiti) and research assistant for Haiti within the Association pour la promotion de la science ouverte en Haïti et en Afrique (APSOHA). For two years now, I have been campaigning for open access to scientific publications in Haiti. But while taking into account the various issues related to this movement in the Haitian context. Indeed, for me, the free access movement created in northern countries like the United States or Canada must not be taken as a ready-made solution from a black box to solve the problems related to access to publications. scientists in Haiti. With the support APSOHA, I had the privilege of organizing the first satellite event in Haiti and throughout the Caribbean, OpenCon 2017 Haiti around the theme "Open Science and Open Access to Revitalize University Studies in Haiti. 

Chealsye Bowley - OpenCon 2017 Southwest Florida

I’m the Scholarly Communication Librarian at Florida Gulf Coast University and the Director of Communications and Advocacy for the Open Access Button. I was first introduced to “Open” when I began my Master’s in Library Information Studies. I had spent the previous few years heavily involved with human rights advocacy, primarily with Amnesty International USA, and Open Access advocacy became a natural new path. For me, free and equitable access to research is a human right and it is a privilege to belong to a community working to achieve Open for all.

Gary McDowell - OpenCon 2017 San Francisco

Lillian Rigling - OpenCon 2017 NC Student Leaders

I am a librarian at North Carolina State University Libraries, where I work in a dual appointment in the Copyright and Digital Scholarship Center and the User Experience Department. I became interested in open issues after working on a textbook affordability project in graduate school. I began to see open educational resources as the key to making course materials not only affordable but also better. After attending OpenCon 2016, it became clear to me that when the next generation of scholars and practitioners will benefit tremendously by embracing open practices in the early phases of their career. In my current position, I work to engage with undergraduate students to empower them to make use of open resources and to make the choice to make their own work open.

Karla Cosgriff - ECS OpenCon 2017

Karla is the Director of Development at ECS. She joined the ECS team in December 2015. For the past 20 years, Karla’s fundraising career has spanned education, the arts, and conservation in the U.S. and abroad, and includes running a marine research institute and supporting programs that benefit museums worldwide. She comes to ECS with a deep commitment to sustainability and communicating the value of science, both which are fueling her efforts with the Free the Science campaign. She has a BA from The American University and an MBA from Georgetown.

Tyler Ford - OpenCon 2017 Boston 

Tyler J. Ford is an Outreach Scientist and blog editor at Addgene, the nonprofit plasmid repository. He is interested in open science because he believes open sharing of reagents, data, and knowledge accelerate the scientific process and force researchers to be more thoughtful about the ways they communicate their work. You can follow Tyler on Twitter @TyFordFever.

Mandi Goodsett - OpenCon 2018 Cleveland

Mandi Goodsett is the Performing Arts and Humanities Librarian at Cleveland State University. She earned her MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is currently earning a Master of Education degree in Adult Learning & Development from Cleveland State. Mandi's professional interests include open education, critical thinking and library instruction, and distance learning. In keeping with her interest in promoting open education, Mandi also serves as an OhioLINK Affordable Learning Ambassador for Ohio and is one of the instructors for the IMLS grant-funded Open Textbook Network OERs for Librarians Bootcamp at ACRL 2019. Mandi is passionate about open education because of its potential to increase access to education and expand the possibilities for learning in the classroom.

Elisabeth Shook - OpenCon 2017 Nashville

I am the Scholarly Communications Librarian at Vanderbilt University. I have been an Open Access advocate since graduate school where I worked on open data curation with the US Forest Service. The possibilities that arise simply by making data openly accessible opened (no pun intended) my eyes to the world of unlocking research. Since then, I’ve worked in professional positions to recruit and upload materials into an institutional repository, which I truly believe helps push the OA agenda. I also educate the Vanderbilt campus about the benefits of open access, and work hard to support OA publishing. Removing barriers to research is my ultimate goal. Being part of OpenCon has been enlightening and encouraging, and I’m proud to be part of the community.

Sarah Melton, Ellen Phillips & John O'Connor - OpenCon 2018 Boston

As the Head of Digital Scholarship at Boston College Libraries, Sarah Melton leads a group that explores and documents new tools and supports teaching and research in a variety of areas that utilize broad methodologies in the digital humanities and scholarly communications.

Ellen Phillips is the Open Access Specialist at Boston University Libraries. She promotes open access scholarly communications at BU through advocacy, programming, and policy implementation.

John O'Connor is Scholarly Communications Librarian at Boston College’s O’Neill Library. He manages Boston College’s Institutional Repository (eScholarship@BC) and Electronic Theses and Dissertations program. In addition, he spearheads campus outreach around scholarly communications issues.

Rachael Lammey - OpenCon 2017 Oxford

I’m head of Community Development at Crossref. We work with lots of OA publishers around the world and make metadata openly available (via our API and Open Funder Registry). This makes it available for people to build on and use, and a lot of the research community use our services surrounding metadata and identifiers to find, link, cite and assess research. We’ve now run 3 OpenCon satellites in Oxford, collaborating with ORCID in 2016, and in 2017 with the Bodleian Libraries and Centre for Digital Scholarship at Oxford University. The event is growing each year and we’re keen to continue running events to support OpenCon and the research community! 

.

Luiza Bengtsson and Emma Harris – OpenCon Germany 2018

Dr Luiza Bengtsson (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC)) is a biochemist, science communicator & science educator; lecturer & educational program developer. As work Package Leader for the ORION Open Science project she is responsible for developing training to support and encourage Open Science and best research practice in Life Science Research Funding and Performing Organisations (RFPOs). Dr Emma Harris (MDC) is an enthusiast for open science, RRI, and science communication. She is the Training Developer working on designing open science training and materials for the ORION Project.