On May 26, 2026, a round table "Rethinking Economic Heritage: The Role of Open Science" was held at the SE "Institute of Economics and Forecasting of the NAS of Ukraine".
The event brought together scientists from the NAS of Ukraine, university lecturers, and experts from various regions of Ukraine working at the intersection of economic history, socio-economic research, education, and science. The focus of the participants was on issues of open access to knowledge and data, the development of citizen science, understanding historical heritage, and using modern research approaches to develop solutions important for the country's future.
The co-organizers of the round table were the Institute of Economics and Forecasting of the NAS of Ukraine, the M. Ptukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, the University of Educational Management of the NAPS of Ukraine, the Institute of Higher Education of the NAPS of Ukraine, and the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy".
One of the main topics was the role of science and education in shaping historical memory. Leading researcher of the Department of Economic History of the Institute of Economics and Forecasting, Doctor of Economics Olena Shevchenko presented the concept of open science as a platform for rethinking Ukraine's economic heritage. She emphasized that in the context of modern informational challenges and hybrid conflicts, historical memory becomes an important factor of social consolidation and national security. According to her, science and education play a key role in forming a critical view of the past, contributing to the development of objective historical knowledge and responsible public dialogue.
The practical possibilities of open science were demonstrated through the project "Assessment of the Holodomor in British Archival Discourse," presented by the leading researcher of the Department of Economic History of the Institute of Economics and Forecasting, Doctor of Economics Nataliya Suprun. She spoke about the use of open archival materials to study the economic aspects of the Holodomor, showing how access to primary sources allows rethinking established historical notions and countering totalitarian myths.
Participants paid special attention to data as a strategic resource for modern development. Head of the Department of Modeling Socio-Economic Processes and Structures of the M. Ptukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Sarioglo presented a report prepared jointly with Candidate of Economics Nataliya Korzhunova on the informational support of socio-economic policy in the context of forming the European Data Space. He emphasized the importance of reliable statistical and analytical information for making effective management decisions and outlined problems related to data management in Ukraine.
Significant attention was given to citizen science—the involvement of society in creating and disseminating scientific knowledge. Senior researcher of the Institute of Economics and Forecasting, Candidate of Economics Lesya Didkivska analyzed the role of non-governmental organizations in promoting the principles of open science, supporting academic integrity, and creating modern digital tools for working with open data. In her opinion, the combination of academic and citizen science can ensure greater social impact of research and make scientific knowledge more accessible to a wide audience.
The topic of rethinking historical heritage was continued by a researcher of the Institute of Economics and Forecasting, Candidate of Economics Nazar Horin, who presented the monograph "Decolonization. Essays from Ukraine". The author drew attention to the need for a critical review of colonial approaches to interpreting Ukraine's economic history and the importance of open access to sources for forming an objective view of the past.
Leading researcher of the Institute of Economics and Forecasting, Doctor of Economics Olena Tsyplytska spoke about the prospects of citizen science in Ukraine in the context of implementing the European Research Area policy and post-war state recovery. She highlighted the potential for involving citizens in research in areas such as monitoring the consequences of war, environmental protection, preserving cultural heritage, and developing local communities. At the same time, the scientist emphasized the need for further institutionalization of citizen science and the creation of appropriate organizational and regulatory mechanisms to support it.
Summarizing the discussion, the round table participants noted that open science today is not only a modern format for organizing research. It creates new opportunities for working with historical heritage, improves the quality of management decisions, promotes the development of civil society, and helps strengthen trust in science.
According to information from the Institute of Economics and Forecasting of the NAS of Ukraine
