What can Open Science learn from Performing Arts?
I was recently invited to Munich to an annual conference about the future of Open Research: #FOR2026
I was invited not only to attend this gathering of people — who have dedicated most of their time and energy to open science, open research and open education — but I was also invited to present my perspective based on an abstract I had submitted to them.
And I did, it felt wonderful although daunting, as the entire presentation was outside the comfort zone of the labelled box I had made for myself ‘as a person of science’. Instead, it encapsulated a very deep truth about who I am today and how I got to where I am today in all aspects of my life: what I have learnt from art and how that has kept me from becoming progressively colonised.
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So without further ado, here is the video of my 10 minute presentation, with me only talking for 4 minutes in total: before, between and after each of my co-authors present their own work for (almost) 2 minutes each:
- Jahanzeb Siddiqui (a stand up comedian by night);
- the poet known as Subaiqa;
- and Dr Sarah Farid a ‘soulful’ attorney.
and here are two photos of me at the event decolonising everyone with my exotic and mystical mind control, mesmerising techniques (lol):
