The origins of a guide on open science, Open Science in the Developing World: A Collection of Practical Guides for Researchers in Developing Countries, can be traced back to an unexpected place: a single post on Twitter.
When the lead author, Hu Chuan-Peng, asked researchers around the world to share the obstacles they faced practicing open science, the responses came quickly, from every direction.
What emerged was a clear pattern: the global open science movement, while well intentioned, had largely been shaped by researchers in resource-rich settings, leaving significant gaps for those working in developing countries. After joining the editorial board of Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, Hu had been looking for ways to create space for colleagues from developing countries to share their experiences. In discussion with the journal’s editor, the idea emerged that an open, collective call could become a collaborative, experience-sharing paper.
That moment of online exchange sparked the formation of a dispersed, volunteer-driven community that would go on to create a practical, context-sensitive guide.
As Zhiqi Xu, PhD researcher and guide co-author explains, ‘The guide is the very first of its kind. It helps researchers from developing countries, or anyone working in resource-constrained situations – adopt open science practices or even start initiatives and communities.’
What is open science?
Open science is the movement to make research more transparent, accessible and reusable for everyone. It encourages practices such as sharing data, methods and findings openly so others can learn from, verify or build on the work. At its core, open science aims to strengthen the quality and credibility of research by promoting openness throughout the entire research process.
Understanding barriers to open science
The need for such a guide became evident early on. Many open science standards and expectations had been established by well-funded institutions in the Global North. According to Zhiqi, ‘We came up with a lot of practices and principles, but some of them may not apply to researchers from developing countries because their main feature is that they’re very resource constrained. They don't have enough funding and they don't have enough time.’
Power asymmetries also play a role. When researchers from developing and developed countries collaborate, the exchange is not always equal. ‘There’s a power dynamic that favors researchers from developed countries,’ she said. These dynamics shaped both the structure and purpose of the guide.
Building a global manuscript
The project began with dozens of contributors across continents. Zhiqi described it as ‘rounds and rounds of discussions, online exchanges and community input.’ Different volunteers took responsibility for particular topics and organized their own group sessions to develop the content. Over time, the team refined the manuscript, returned it to contributors for feedback and sent it to students – the eventual users of the guide – for clarity testing.
Even before publication, the emerging work reached audiences at conferences in Nairobi, Budapest and online, strengthening the project through new perspectives. ‘All that voluntary work shaped the manuscript,’ she said.
One idea guided the team’s approach: barriers are not only limitations but also opportunities. Zhiqi pointed to the Chinese phrase for crisis, wei ji, composed of characters meaning danger and opportunity. ‘We believe the barriers can be turned into opportunities to improve and innovate,’ she explained.
This thinking led to a four-level guide that allows researchers to enter open science at different stages: foundation, growth, community and leadership. Each level acknowledges varying capacities and constraints. ‘It does not need to be sequential,’ she noted. ‘If you are a senior researcher, you can just jump to community or leadership level.’
Stories that shaped the guide
Throughout the project, the team drew on real examples of grassroots open science in action. One came from the Chinese Open Science Network, founded after its creator realized how much global guidance was inaccessible to Chinese scholars due to language barriers. Volunteers began translating key materials and hosting online seminars. The network now connects scholars across disciplines, offers training and even brokers in international collaborations. As Zhiqi explained, it showed how much change can emerge ‘from completely voluntary work.’
Another example came from Serbia, where an open science community built momentum through workshops and collaborations between researchers and librarians, demonstrating how local ecosystems can grow when bottom-up energy aligns with supportive institutional structures. These examples underscore how open science gains strength through communities, not mandates.
‘We believe the barriers can be turned into opportunities to improve and innovate.’
Zhiqi Xu
A guide for all
Although the guide was built with researchers in developing countries in mind, its audience is much broader. ‘It is for everyone in resource-constrained settings,’ Zhiqi emphasizes. The team sees the guide not as a final answer but as an invitation for scholars to adapt, expand and reimagine open science for their disciplines.
The work is also continuing beyond the guide. Several co-authors are now building on its insights in new research projects. One group, including Zhiqi, is developing a manuscript on strategies for engaging hard-to-reach populations in experimental studies. Another team is examining participant diversity and representativeness in large-scale international collaborations within psychological science.
What began as a single Tweet has become a resource shaped by diverse experiences, offering a more inclusive path into open science for all.
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Read the guide
The article, Open Science in the Developing World: A Collection of Practical Guides for Researchers in Developing Countries, offers four stages of getting involved in open science at your own pace. Researchers across all levels can benefit from such a guide to produce inclusive and open research.
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