The Quest for Open Membrane Science

The field of membrane science and technology is a cornerstone of sustainable solutions for global challenges such as water scarcity, energy efficiency, and green chemistry. To accelerate innovation and adapt to the ever-growing pace of technological advancement, the EMS acknowledges that our collective and collaborative effort is necessary.

The EMS believes that broad impact is only possible if we embrace open access publishing, open-access databases, and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data management principles in the field of membrane science and technology.

Sharing Our Membrane Data

Open and FAIR data in membrane science ensures that experimental and computational data on membrane performance are preserved for future researchers to build upon. This includes membrane fabrication data — such as recipes and fabrication parameters—membrane characteristics — such as rejection, permeance, and selectivity — and the exact conditions under which these characteristics are measured. Comprehensive and transparent documentation of all these aspects is essential for reproducibility, comparability, and meaningful data reuse. Such open access to data is crucial for advancements in water treatment, gas separation, and chemical processing. By bridging open approaches from the molecular to the process scale, researchers can achieve holistic advancements that address the interconnected challenges faced in diverse applications.

Platforms to Publish Your Membrane Data

Websites and databases are available for the deposition of membrane-related performance data:

Platform	Link
OSN Database	www.osndatabase.com
Open Membrane Database	www.openmembranedatabase.com
Polymer Gas Separation Membrane Database	www.research.csiro.au/virtualscreening/membrane-database-polymer-gas-separation-membranes/

Collaborating Across Disciplines for Transformative Impact

Membrane science does not operate in isolation. Collaboration with adjacent fields such as computational chemistry, material science, data science, and process engineering is essential. Leveraging expertise from these domains enables more comprehensive studies, the development of new methodologies, and the application of advanced analytical and computational tools. Open access publishing and FAIR data foster a culture of interdisciplinary innovation.

A Call to Action

The journey toward open access and FAIR data is not without challenges, but the benefits are substantial. By committing to these principles, the membrane community can create a collaborative, transparent, and innovative ecosystem that drives progress in the field of membrane science and technology. Submit your membrane data today!

Why Open Access?

Open access publishing ensures that research is freely available to everyone, from academic researchers and industry professionals to policymakers and the public, regardless of how groundbreaking or modest progress it represents. Sharing findings without barriers promotes transparency, reproducibility, and the global dissemination of knowledge.

Why FAIR?

Datasets must be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable.

Findable: Clear metadata and unique identifiers for datasets ensure that data can be easily discovered.

Accessible: Data stored in open repositories ensures global access without unnecessary restrictions.

Interoperable: Standardized formats make it easier to integrate data across studies and disciplines.

Reusable: Well-documented data and methodologies enable others to replicate or extend findings.

Contacts: Gyorgy Szekely, Hannah Roth

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