Dear researchers of the University of Lucerne,

Welcome to the first edition of our Open Science Newsletter!
Every semester, we will inform you about current developments, services, and events related to Open Science – from Open Access and Research Data Management to new projects and funding opportunities. Occasionally, researchers will also share their practical experiences as well as helpful tips and tricks.

Our first issue marks a special occasion: the Lucerne Open Access Repository LORY is celebrating its 10th anniversary. We warmly invite you to join the celebration!

Happy reading,
Your Open Science Team
 

Jennifer Gewinner (Research Data), Dominik Matter (Open Access), Nadja Meyenhofer (Research Data), and Simone Rosenkranz (Head Open Science)

Ten Years of LORY & Open Access Week

In autumn 2015, the first publications were uploaded to LORY (Lucerne Open Repository). Today, the repository hosts over 5000 publications with more than one million downloads.

To celebrate this anniversary and as part of the international Open Access Week (20–25 October 2025), several events will take place (in German):

• Exhibition by students from the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art, featuring designs for a new LORY logo
• Event on publication opportunities for doctoral theses, followed by an apéro for PhD candidates
• Online panel discussion: The Vision and Reality of Open Access
• WISSEN+: Funding Open Access Publications

Join us in celebrating!
Programme: 10 Years of LORY & Open Access Week

Unlock Open Science: Practice-Oriented Courses

In November, the Open Science Team, together with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, is offering a four-part course series on Open Science (in English).

Dates:
• Open Science Fundamentals: 12 November, 9:00–12:30
• Mastering RDM:  Fundamentals: 14 November, 9:00–12:30
• Publishing Open Access: 26 November, 9:00–12:30
• Mastering RDM: In-Depth Skills and Knowledge: 28 November, 9:00–12:30

The courses are interactive, provide space for individual questions, and are open to everyone interested – especially doctoral students. Attendance is limited.

Registration: Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Course Open Science Unlocked

Engagement in National Open Science Projects

The University of Lucerne and the ZHB are actively involved in national swissuniversities projects that promote Open Access and Research Data Management:

• CoDOA-CH: Establishing a consortium for sustainable Diamond Open Access journals
• ROAL: Analyzing the Swiss publication landscape in the field of law
• Data Pro: Developing a support service for legal questions related to Research Data Management

Wanted: Open Science Ambassadors!

The University of Lucerne is participating in the Open Science Ambassador Programme to promote Open Science at Institutions of Higher Education in Central Switzerland.
We are looking for dedicated researchers who would want to act as multipliers for Open Science, offer peer support, and share best practices.

Interested? Get in touch at: openaccess@zhbluzern.ch

Open Science Award 2025

This year’s Open Science Award was met with great interest – applications were submitted by almost every faculty. For the first time, the award will be presented by the Rector at the Dies Academicus on 6 November. The winners will be announced at this event.

Read & Publish Agreements

The University of Lucerne participates in eight national Read & Publish Agreements. These allow researchers to publish Open Access at no additional cost as corresponding authors.
Since 2022, around 120 articles by researchers from the University of Lucerne have been made openly accessible in this way. The agreement with Springer will expire at the end of 2025 – negotiations for a successor arrangement are currently underway.

Details: Read & Publish Agreements – ZHB Luzern

Gold Open Access Publication Fund

There’s still funding available through the new publication fund for Gold Open Access publications! You can submit your application anytime via the Research Information System (FIS).

Find out more: Open Access Publication Fund University of Lucerne

Increase the visibility of your research! By additionally depositing your publication in LORY, you can significantly boost its reach and discoverability.

Here’s how:

1. Enter your publication in the Research Information System (FIS)
2. Upload the full text and release it for LORY
3. The Open Science Team will check the legal requirements and publish the publication on LORY

Matthias Ertl

«Open science is important to me because knowledge is only useful if it is verifiable, accessible and reusable. Open Access publications ensure this availability, increase visibility and reception, and accelerate transfer into practice and teaching.»

Prof. Dr. Matthias Ertl (Faculty of Behavioural Sciences and Psychology) was the first researcher to use the Open Access Publication Fund. With the support of the fund, his article Human sciences can increase technology acceptance in rehabilitation science: a call for action was published in the journal Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences in Open Access.

In addition, Matthias Ertl is strongly committed to promoting Open Science: he makes the research data and codes he uses for his work freely available and acts as Open Science Ambassador for the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences and Psychology.

ZentralGut is the digital showcase for the cultural heritage of Central Switzerland. Discover historical documents, photos, audio and film recordings from regional archives, museums and libraries. Did you know that several journals from the University of Lucerne are available digitally in ZentralGut? In this anniversary year, it is particularly fitting to take a look at the history of the university through its own publications. Enjoy exploring!

• Unilu Aktuell (2002–2017)
• Cogito – Wissensmagazin der Universität Luzern (2018–2025)
• Hochschulsport Campus Luzern: Jahresbericht (2011–2024)