There was a time when everything on the internet seemed like it would be there forever, whether a Facebook status or a government website. But today the prospect of maintaining massive amounts of digital history is in doubt. This poses a particular issue for the open science movement, which has advocated for wide access to scientific data and papers over the last 25 years. The movement’s successes have led to the creation of digital research infrastructure such as data libraries and preservation systems that serve large and small research communities. Now, as the system is maturing, it’s becoming clear that open science isn’t free: it requires investment and significant effort to stay alive. Without it, open research cannot be verified or advanced. 

On this episode, host Megan Nicholson is joined by Jen Gibson and Kaitlin Thaney, authors of “Who Will Keep Research Data Infrastructure Open and Running?” in our Spring 2026 issue. Gibson is the executive director of Dryad, an open-access international research data repository and curation service. Thaney is the executive director of Invest in Open Infrastructure, a nonprofit that advances open-source solutions and systems for research communities. 

Resources:

Read “Who Will Keep Research Data Infrastructure Open and Running?” for more on the importance of maintaining digital infrastructure.

Visit Dryad and Invest in Open Infrastructure’s websites to learn more about open data, open infrastructure, and how you can support their work.