François Gibier, librarian at the University of Montpellier, winner of the 2026 CHARM-EU Open Science Recognition Award
François Gibier, a research technician at the Laboratory of Mechanics and Civil Engineering and a specialist in scientific and technical information, is a member of the University of Montpellier’s Open Science team within the Joint Documentation Service (SCD).
On October 6, 2026, he won the Open Science Award from the European University Alliance CHARM-EU in the individual category.
Established in 2023, this award honors individuals engaged in research or teaching at partner universities who have made a significant contribution to open science.
A Daily Commitment to the University Community
François Gibier works daily to raise awareness among researchers and doctoral students about open science practices. He provides training on research data management, scientific publishing, and the management of researchers’ digital identities.
He also serves on the technical committee of the *Journal of Theoretical, Computational, and Applied Mechanics* (JTCAM), a diamond-level open-access journal in the field of mechanics, as well as on the board of CasuHAL, the user association for HAL, the national open archive. These diverse commitments share a common thread: making open science an integral part of day-to-day research activities.
“Open science is important to me because it is a complex and fascinating movement whose goals and values align with my vision of public service. It offers an effective response to certain challenges facing research: the lack of transparency, the reproducibility crisis, the glut of publications, and the limitations of research evaluation. With patience and perseverance, we can bring about change and propose effective solutions through open science.”
As the winner, François Gibier will have the opportunity to participate in a study visit at one of CHARM-EU’s partner universities to exchange ideas with local experts on strategies for promoting open science.
Congratulations to François Gibier, whose success highlights the vital role that research support staff—particularly library and IT staff—play every day in supporting research teams and promoting the reliable and secure dissemination of their work!