March academy recap: open data for territories and trustworthy research
Two sessions exploring how open data supports public decision‑making and responsible research
In March, the data.europa academy hosted two webinars that approached open data from different perspectives yet shared a common focus on societal impact. One session was organised in the context of Open Data Day 2026 and examined open data as a public good for territorial development. The other marked the start of a new webinar series on open data, academia, and ethics. Together, these webinars offered participants a broad view of how open data informs policy, research, and public trust. Here is a recap of how the sessions unfolded.
The first webinar, ‘Open data as a public good: evidence‑based development across territories’, took place on Friday, 13 March, from 10:00 to 11:30 CET. This session focused on how open data can support governance decisions related to accessibility and service provision, particularly in rural areas. Solana Larsen from the Open Knowledge Foundation opened the webinar by discussing open data as a global public good and its role in promoting transparency and innovation. This was followed by two practical perspectives: Johanna Walker, from King's College London, explored how data practices often prioritise urban areas, while Patrick Collins presented Ireland’s Pobal tool, showing how open data can be used to identify socio‑economic challenges and guide policy decisions.
The second webinar, ‘Open data, academia, and ethics: fostering trust through data‑based reasoning’, was held on Friday, 27 March, from 10:00 to 11:00 CET. As the first episode of a three‑part series, the session turned attention to academic research and ethical responsibility. Dr.Elfia Bezou Vrakatseli and Dr. Ameer Saadat‑Yazdi from Inria examined how data‑based arguments are formed, where reasoning can become misleading, and why openness alone does not automatically result in reliable or ethical outcomes, especially in AI‑supported research.
Would you like to stay informed about upcoming Academy webinars and new learning opportunities? Visit the European Data Portal to discover future events, access recordings, and keep up to date with activities across the European open data community!
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