How Has ‘Opening Up’ Science Changed Scientific Practices?

Discussions of ‘open science’ often focus on what it means to be ‘open,’ including practices of sharing data, outputs, and publications, among other practices. However, it is important to use explorations of changing practices in this domain to explore what we understand science to be. The papers in this special issue provide rich fodder for such an investigation, allowing us to consider evolving understandings of what science is, who practices it, and what makes activities ‘scientific.’ I contend that they collectively underscore the point that openness does not necessarily foster equity in terms of who participates in the doing of science or who is viewed as a scientific contributor. Open science practices require continued scrutiny particularly with attention to negative effects on core human values central to the doing of good science such as equity.