Trust in scientific data, the accessibility and societal relevance of science, as well as the role of ethics, artificial intelligence, and citizens in contemporary research, were among the main topics of the Second National Doctoral School on Open Science 2026.
The forum brought together dozens of doctoral candidates and leading experts from the academic community across the country from June 12 to 14, 2026, at the Center of Excellence UNITe.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria, the Center of Excellence UNITe, the National Centre for Information and Documentation, the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the NGO Links.
During the three-day programme, doctoral candidates and early-career researchers from various scientific disciplines and regions of the country deepened their knowledge of key topics related to open science. These included research data management, the FAIR principles, open access to scientific results, research ethics, citizen science, scientific visibility, and the use of artificial intelligence in the research process.
Against the backdrop of the rapid development of technologies and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the creation and dissemination of knowledge, participants acquired practical skills and modern tools for working with research data, scientific publications, and digital resources. The training also encouraged the establishment of professional contacts and participation in broader scientific networks and communities.
The National Doctoral School on Open Science 2026 was officially opened in an exceptionally positive and inspiring atmosphere by Prof. Senya Terzieva-Zhelyazkova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Academician Prof. Tony Spasov, DSc, Vice Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” Prof. Maya Stoyanova, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, and Prof. Ana Proykova.
Along with them, the project partners also extended their greetings to the participants — Prof. Petar Stanchev from the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Krassen Stefanov and Prof. Ivan Koychev from the Center of Excellence UNITe, Dr. Yordan Iliev from National Center for Information and Documentation (NACID), and Teodora Gandova from NGO Links. In their remarks, they emphasized the importance of open science and encouraged young researchers to develop their scientific potential, seek new opportunities for professional growth, and confidently pursue their ideas and research interests.
Dr. Yordan Iliev of the NACID kicked off the training program with a presentation titled “Fundamentals and Principles of Open Science”.
Among the instructors in the program were also experts from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, the Center of Excellence UNITe, the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as well as representatives of the Wikipedia community. During the training session, Dr. Nikola Tulechki from the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the BAS presented the FAIR principles and the role of Wikidata as a tool for creating linked, accessible, and reusable scientific knowledge. Prof. Petar Stanchev, also from the IMI-BAS, drew attention to research data management, focusing on one of the most pressing questions facing contemporary researchers — “What should I do with my data?” — namely, the storage, organization, and effective use of data in scientific work.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Albena Antonova presented the European Competence Framework for Researchers (ResearchComp) and the self-assessment tools based on it, with a particular focus on open science skills. She highlighted their role in planning training and mentoring support, as well as opportunities to participate in science outreach initiatives within the K-TRIO project.
The lecture by keynote speaker Magdalena Szuflita-Żurawska from the Polish EOSC Node sparked particular interest among the participants. In her presentation, she outlined best practices for developing Data Management Plans and emphasized the importance of the FAIR and CARE principles as a foundation for the responsible, transparent, and sustainable conduct of scientific research.
Attention was also given to issues related to copyright and the various models of open access to scientific results, as well as the rights and responsibilities of authors, which were examined by Dr. Ana Lazarova.
Assoc. Prof. Valentina Kaneva and Assoc. Prof. Temenuzhka Zafirova-Malcheva from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” steered the discussion toward the topics of research ethics, academic integrity, and the challenges posed by the integration of artificial intelligence into scientific and educational activities.
Assoc. Prof. Valeria Simeonova from the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at the Sofia University presented the topics of scientific visibility and the ways in which research results reach wider audiences and increase their impact. In her presentation, she discussed the role of preprints, alternative bibliometric sources, and contemporary mechanisms for promoting scientific research in the digital era.
The topic of citizen science generated strong interest and active discussions among the participants. Assoc. Prof. Galina Momcheva from the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences presented opportunities for building open scientific communities, partnerships, and collaboration networks, while Teodora Gandova from NGO Links focused on the role of citizens in the scientific process and the future prospects of citizen science.
The lecture delivered by Dr. Plamen Miltenov from the University of Economics – Varna also sparked considerable interest and a lively exchange of opinions. His presentation focused on the challenges and contradictions of open knowledge in the age of artificial intelligence. In his presentation, he emphasized the growing importance of high-quality data for the development of AI systems and highlighted the key role of libraries as custodians of open knowledge, as well as the importance of metadata as a fundamental tool for the description, discoverability, and reliable use of scientific publications.
The Second National Doctoral School on Open Science 2026 demonstrated that the advancement of modern science is increasingly founded on openness, connectivity, and knowledge sharing. The most significant outcome of the event was the establishment of professional networks, the exchange of ideas, and the formation of an active community of young researchers ready to work together in addressing scientific and societal challenges.
The National Doctoral School is part of the activities of the Open Science Pilot Program, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science and implemented by a consortium comprising: the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Center of Excellence UNITe, the National Center for Information and Documentation, and the NGO Links.
