A National Milestone for Research and Innovation
The LIBSENSE Open Science Symposium – The Gambia takes place at a defining moment for the country’s research and education ecosystem.
With the recent connection of GAMREN (The Gambia Research and Education Network) to the WACREN regional backbone, and its formal launch during the WACREN 2026 Conference in the presence of the President of the Republic, The Gambia has entered a new phase of continental research integration.
This Symposium provides the policy and coordination complement to that infrastructure milestone. If GAMREN represents national connectivity, this Symposium represents national coordination of knowledge.
Purpose
The Symposium initiates structured national dialogue toward a Gambian National Open Science Roadmap, aligned with international Open Science principles and regional research integration.
Its objective is to ensure that improved connectivity translates into:
- Greater global visibility of Gambian scholarship
- Sustainable Diamond Open Access publishing
- Strengthened national research coordination
- Participation in international knowledge infrastructures
What Will Happen
Over two days, national stakeholders will engage in:
- Policy dialogue and governance alignment
- Infrastructure readiness discussions
- Implementation pathways for Open Access and repositories
- Identification of practical next steps
Strategic Alignment
The Symposium is intentionally positioned alongside the WACREN 2026 Conference, linking national Open Science policy dialogue with continental research and education infrastructure integration.
Connectivity is the foundation.
Coordination is the multiplier.
Open Science is the outcome.
