Visual Data and Open Science: Friends or Foes?
Istituto di tecnologie digitali per la comunicazione
Data: 21 maggio 2026
BiblioAgorà, East Campus
Introduction to a Guidance Platform for Open Visual Data
Can visual data truly be “open”? Or do ethical, legal, and contextual sensitivities make openness problematic? This interactive workshop introduces a new guidance platform for open visual data, developed on the basis of the Recommendations for Open Data Practices in Visual Social Research and that builds upon the different research phases. Designed primarily for scholars in the social sciences working with visual materials, the platform supports researchers in implementing context-sensitive and ethically and legally robust open data practices. At the same time, it fosters a collaborative environment in which scholars can share and reflect on their own best practices, contributing experiential knowledge that complements the platform’s guidelines.
Following a brief introduction to the project and the team, participants will explore the platform’s structure and guiding principles. In a hands-on group activity, they will apply the tool to reflect on and resolve a practical case involving visual data sharing. The workshop concludes with a collective debriefing and a short quiz, highlighting key recommendations such as openness with responsibility, context sensitivity, ethical primacy, degrees of openness, and planning ahead. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for navigating the complex field between transparency and responsibility in visual research.
The event will be held in English. To participate please register at the link below.
