How Open is e-Science?

This paper examines various aspects of "openness" in research, and seeks to gauge the degree to which escience is congruent with "open science." Norms and practices of openness, arguably, have been vital for the work of modern scientific communities, but concerns about the growth of stronger technical and institutional restraints on access to research tools, data and information recently have attracted increased notice -- in part because of their implications for the effective utilization of advanced digital infrastructures and information technologies in research collaborations. Our discussion clarifies the conceptual distinctions between e-science and open science, and reports findings from a preliminary look at practices in U.K. e-science projects. Both parts serve to underscore the point that it is unwarranted to presume that the development of e-science necessarily promotes global open science collaboration. A programme of further empirical studies is outlined, aimed at establishing where, when, and to what extent "openness" and" eness" in scientific and engineering research may be expected to advance hand-in-hand.