The importance of Open Communities of Practice in evidence synthesis

Open Science is increasingly appreciated as a vital backbone to reproducible and transparent science. In evidence synthesis, it has been argued that Open Science principles (co-called Open Synthesis) should be readily acceptable to review authors, since we struggle often with a lack of openness in primary research studies and their data. The final frontier, perhaps, in Open Synthesis are Open Communities of Practice - a synergistic embracing of Open Science principles that provides a welcoming, accessible and equitable space for learning, training, sharing, designing, using and testing of all things related to evidence synthesis. Without dedicated attention to these Communities of Practice, methods, tools and education in evidence synthesis risk being guarded behind barriers that preclude equitable and just access. In this talk I will explain why we should carefully design our Evidence Synthesis Communities of Practice to ensure that everyone can find out about rigorous systematic reviews, learn how to carry out and interpret them, access free tools to support their conduct, and collaborate to design long-lasting tools to support others. I will give examples of how this is happening and highlight continued barriers that must be removed in order to decolonise the future of evidence synthesis and develop just and equitable Evidence Synthesis Communities of Practice.