Visitors from Potsdam: Helmholtz Open Science Office Meets KIT Library

On March 26 and 27, 2025, Mathijs Vleugel, the new director of the Helmholtz Open Science Office in Potsdam, visited Karlsruhe. Even before the customary round of introductions, Library Director Arne Upmeier took him up to the roof of the library on the Campus South—an impressive spot to take in a panoramic view of the campus and downtown Karlsruhe.

Afterward, the library’s various areas of activity were presented, including KIT Scientific Publishing (KSP), KITopen, bibliometrics, the publication fund, information literacy, and other initiatives.

Mathijs Vleugel gave a detailed presentation on the work of the Helmholtz Open Science Office. The overlapping themes led to an insightful discussion about Open Science—a central topic for both the Helmholtz Association and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

On the second day of the visit, the focus was on an exchange with the team from the Research Services Department. Topics included current activities and projects related to research data management and Open Science. There were also introductory meetings with the Digital Office and the Office for Good Research Practice. A tour of Campus North concluded the visit, offering exciting insights into the large-scale research infrastructures located there.

The visit was enriching for both sides and provided impetus for future collaboration.