Open science is all very well but how do you make it FAIR in practice?

Open science is about increasing the reuse of research, and making sure that publicly funded research is accessible to all. Key to achieving this is adhering to FAIR principles: ensuring the findings and data behind research results are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. Rachel Bruce and Bas Cordewener share findings from a recent report which takes stock of how far FAIR principles are supporting open science in the UK and how they are understood and adopted by the research community. There remains some way to go, with further investment in education, training, and skills required. However, it is important to recognise that a “one-size-fits-all” approach may not work, with different research communities having different norms and practices that should be respected as we define what FAIR means and decide how to monitor progress towards this goal.