The reading group “Critical FAIRness” delves into discussions about open research data in practice-based research in art and design, by reflecting and reviewing FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) – one of the leading principles in open science which mainly focus on the technical aspects of availability of data. A revision of these principles are the CARE principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics). CARE aim to protect within the context of open science the rights and sovereignty over data for indigenous people. The goal of the reading group is to foster a transdisciplinary perspective on the fundamental concept of open science, which implies the universal idea of democratizing knowledge. Based on this critical engagement, we aim to develop ideas for conscious and responsible open research data practices in practice-based research in art and design.

The reading group is part of the project Critical FAIRness (www.critical-fairness.net) at the Institute Experimental Design and Media Cultures, Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW, which explores the status and significance of data in practice-based research in art and design. The project also experiments with different modes and methods of sharing and re-using and defines publishing processes for research data of selected research projects.

Tuesday, 19th December 2023, 12 to 13:30 (CET):

“Decolonizing Data”

  • Couldry, Nick, and Ulises A. Mejias. “Data Colonialism: Rethinking Big Data’s Relation to the Contemporary Subject.” Television & New Media, vol. 20, no. 4, 2018, pp. 336–49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1527476418796632.
Monday, 22nd January 2024, 12 to 13:30 (CET):

“Who Benefits from Open Science? – An Interdisciplinary Approach”

  • Staunton, Ciara, et al. “Open Science, Data Sharing and Solidarity: Who Benefits?” History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences, vol. 43, no. 4, Nov. 2021, pp. 1–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40656-021-00468-6.
Monday, 19th February 2024, 12 to 13:30 (CET):

“New Forms of Research Data Management Practices”

  • Manifest-No. “Feminist Data Manifest-No.” Feminist Data Manifest-No. www.manifestno.com, https://www.manifestno.com/home. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.
  • Okune, Angela. “Open Ethnographic Archiving as Feminist, Decolonizing Practice.” Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, Technoscience, vol. 6, no. 2, Nov. 2020, pp. 1–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.28968/cftt.v6i2.33041.
Recommended Preparatory Readings:
  • Wilkinson, Mark D., et al. “The FAIR Guiding Principles for Scientific Data Management and Stewardship.” Scientific Data, vol. 3, no. 1, Dec. 2016, p. 160018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18.
  • Carroll, Stephanie Russo, et al. “Operationalizing the CARE and FAIR Principles for Indigenous Data Futures.” Scientific Data, vol. 8, no. 108, Apr. 2021, pp. 1–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-00892-0.