Challenges of closed vs. opportunities of open: A data feminist reflection on the bibliometrics community's shift to open infrastructure

Talk at Robert-K.-Merton-Center Jour Fixe in Berlin, Germany, 19 March 2025 For decades, research assessmentinfrastructure has been shaped by closed, centralized systems that prioritizeselectivity, reinforce hierarchies, and define what counts as scholarly impact.This talk traces the historical evolution of bibliometrics, from the firstcitation analysis in the early 20th century via the revolutionary developmentof the Science Citation Index to the dominance of commercial data analyticscompanies like Clarivate and Elsevier today. The talk will highlight how theseinfrastructures have perpetuated power imbalances—determining who gets todefine impact, what types of knowledge are valued, and whose labor is madevisible. Currently research assessment and theunderlying bibliometric infrastructure are undergoing a transformation. Theincreasing availability of open bibliographic sources (e.g., Crossref,OpenAlex, DataCite, DOAJ), metadata accessibility, and alternative models ofresearch evaluation are challenging traditional hierarchies and enabling moreinclusive and transparent assessment practices. Using a data feminist lens, this talk willcritically examine both the past and present of research assessmentinfrastructure, advocating for a shift that embraces pluralism, contextualizesmetrics, and recognizes the diverse contributions that shape scholarlyknowledge. By reflecting on historical lessons and current developments, we canenvision a research assessment system that is more equitable, open, andreflective of the complexities of academic work.