Our ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter’ series is taking us around the world — next stop: Mexico City. We recently caught up with Juan Miguel Palma Peña, a PhD holder in Library Science and Information Studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). At UNAM, Juan works as a scholarly librarian in the Humanindex Scholarly Information System of the Humanities Coordination, and is also a professor of the Bachelor’s Degree in Librarianship and Information Studies of the Open University and Distance Education System. His research interests are: scholarly communication; open science; open access. Juan is also a national and international speaker. He has spoken at over 60 academic events in Mexico, the United States of America, Romania, Greece, Malaysia, Egypt and Portugal, among other countries. Juan is an Elected Member of the Standing Committee of the Serials and Other Continuous Resources Section (SOCRS) of the International Federation of Library Associations and Libraries (IFLA). He’s also a member of the Metadata Schema Commission of Institutional Repository UNAM. 

Based in: Mexico City, Mexico 

Summit Session: Licenses Creative Commons for the Open Science in Humanities and Social Sciences Repositories

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

During my doctoral thesis research, in which I studied “Open access to the informational heritage of higher education institutions: recommendations and strategies,” I found that creative commons licenses are significant instruments that foster and formalize openness of commons goods.

How many times have you been to CC Global Summit?

Two

What was your favorite CC Global Summit? 

CC Global Summit 2019 – Lisbon Portugal

In the future, what is something you would like to see at the CC Summit?

I would like to see more contributions and participation of librarianship community and Latin American community in trends and implementations of Creative Commons licenses to foster openness.

Why are you an advocate for Open?

I think open licenses are a benefit society in terms of fostering the universal right of universal information access, and society benefits from the outputs of research and culture that build an informed society. 

“Never before has society had so much information as today, but never before have we needed access to information so much as today.”

What is your proudest achievement?

I am proud of my research and sharing open science and its factors, actors and infrastructure in Latin America with the participation of libraries. Also, I am proud to share proposals for publicly funded open information resources in different forums. Additionally, I participate in different projects and networks that foster scholarly communication, open access and open science, such as UNAM and IFLA.

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

I collaborate in research and study different approaches and factors of open access, open science, specifically in social factors, actors and infrastructure, such as metadata schemas for data and scholarly publications.

What’s one new trend that you think the CC community should look out for?

Seeing more libraries use Creative Commons licenses for sharing information resources around the world.

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

Never before has society had so much information as today, but never before have we needed access to information so much as today.

To ensure better access to information, librarianship approaches are fundamental. This will help justify and promote the standardized openness of those resources, as well as harmonize that process with FAIR principles, to expand and enrich creative commons licenses for research data and scholarly publications that ensure these routes are available and open to all, to promote inter-connectivity and be as interoperable as possible in line with the current flow of information.

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

We are working together to build an open ecosystem for the exchange of information for the benefit of society.

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

I think it is necessary to foster different approaches of study and implementation, and to work with diverse communities in a common aim that is openness of information resources that benefit societies.

We can’t wait to see you at the 2021 CC Global Summit happening September 20-24. If you haven’t had a chance to register yet? Register here >>

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Next in our ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter’ series meet, Franny Gaede, Director of Digital Scholarship Services at the University of Oregon Libraries. Franny provides leadership and support for digital scholarship, digital collections, digital preservation, scholarly communication, and library-led open access publishing. She earned her MSIS and BA in History at the University of Texas at Austin, and previously worked as the Scholarly Communication Librarian for Butler University. Franny’s professional interests include open access and social justice, digital scholarship project sustainability and preservation, and applications for digital scholarship work in research and teaching.

Based in: Eugene, Oregon, United States

Summit Session: Open as a High Impact Practice: Centering Open Pedagogy and Public Scholarship

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

I got involved with Creative Commons pretty much day one as a teaching librarian who was trying to keep students engaged in information and digital literacy instruction! As the designated “copyright person” on campus, I was so uninterested in policing people’s usage and measuring risk tolerance. I’m always much more excited to collaborate and co-create with my colleagues, and that’s what Creative Commons makes possible.

How many times have you been to CC Global Summit?

This is my first time attending.

In the future, what is something you would like to see at the CC Summit?

Continued opportunities to present, collaborate, and learn about open education and open scholarship.

Why are you an advocate for Open?

I am an advocate for Open because Open saves lives. It makes extraordinary works of art, creativity, music, drama, experiences available for all to experience and engage with in a variety of unknowable ways. It fulfills the promise of the Internet and of science, building connections and foundations.

“Open saves lives. It makes extraordinary works of art, creativity, music, drama, experiences available for all to experience and engage with in a variety of unknowable ways. It fulfills the promise of the Internet and of science, building connections and foundations.”

What is your proudest achievement?

Helping pass the University of Oregon’s first comprehensive open access policy.

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

The best part of what I do is getting to geek out with others about cool stuff! 

The most difficult part of what I do is maintaining a sense of self — the idea of “it’s not just what I do, but who I am” is hard to maintain in the long run and can lead to burnout. I don’t want that for myself or for others. A healthy balance is good.

What is your favorite GIF?

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What tool/platform/app are you loving right now?

I am super into Polywork! (https://www.polywork.com) It’s a little bit like LinkedIn, but it recognizes that we’re multifaceted people whose work isn’t just their title or 9-5, but a whole bunch of different things. It lets me talk about and share the other stuff I’m into, like my calligraphy, gaming, and blogging.

What’s one new trend that you think the CC community should look out for?

Not a *new* trend, but I’d love to encourage the CC community to continue to look to GLAM institutions as collaborators, and for GLAM institutions to continue using CC licenses as much as they possibly can. (And to advocate for their institutions to do the same!)

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

My institution has been going through a lot of change, pretty much since I got there! I manage it by not being precious about my ideas, sharing thoughts and feelings freely, operating transparently, and asking all the questions. 

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

This isn’t easy, but it’s learnable. We can do this.

What was the best career advice you ever received? What was the worst career advice you ever received?

Not just the best career advice, but life advice: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.”

Worst career advice, from my brain as I’m about to leave for the day: “You don’t need that cardigan; it’s 95 degrees Fahrenheit outside.” (Yes, but it’s approximately 60 in the library.)

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

Congratulations and thank you. You’ve changed the world for the better.

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

We can do better, and we can do better still, together.

Join us at the 2021 CC Global Summit, which will take place virtually September 20-24. Register here >>

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The 2021 CC Global Summit (September 20-24) is on the horizon, and we have another ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter’ Q&A for you! Meet Dr. Matthew Rimmer, a Professor in Intellectual Property and Innovation Law at the Faculty of Business and Law, at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He has published widely on copyright law and information technology, patent law and biotechnology, access to medicines, plain packaging of tobacco products, intellectual property and climate change, Indigenous Intellectual Property, and intellectual property and trade. He is undertaking research on intellectual property and 3D printing; the regulation of robotics and artificial intelligence; and intellectual property and public health (particularly looking at the coronavirus COVID-19). His work is archived at QUT ePrints, SSRN Abstracts, Bepress Selected Works, and Open Science Framework. 

Based in: Brisbane, Australia (As the Men at Work song goes, “I come from a Land down under” )

Summit Session: Adbusting Big Tobacco; Australia’s TRIPS Waiver Wobble; The Right to Repair

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

My interest in intellectual property and the commons arose as a student in the 1990s – and pre-dates the establishment of the Creative Commons.

How many times have you been to CC Global Summit?

This is my 4th consecutive Creative Commons Summit (following on from Toronto, Canada, Lisbon, Portugal, and the Corona-Lockdown Virtual Summit).

What was your favorite CC Global Summit?

Lisbon, Portugal

In the future, what is something you would like to see at the CC Summit?

I would like to see the Creative Commons movement grapple with the grand challenges of the sustainable development goals – such as poverty and inequality, education and access to knowledge, public health, climate action, and responsible consumption and production.

Why are you an advocate for Open?

I am an advocate for open innovation in order to address and achieve the goals of access to knowledge, health for all, and climate justice.

“‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ signals the need for intergenerational justice — the demand for long-term solutions to global challenges.”

What is your proudest achievement?

I was part of the collective effort – which brought about the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products in Australia, and its defence in the High Court of Australia, an ISDS tribunal, and the WTO. Standardized packaging for tobacco products has proven to be an effective means of tackling the global tobacco epidemic in a range of countries around the world.

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

The best part of my work is building research networks and social movements to advocate for law reform in respect of intellectual property in areas of public policy. The most difficult part of my work is that the intellectual property debates I care about are perennial battles – they require long-term work and advocacy.

What is your favorite GIF?

The Laughing Kookaburra is my favourite GIF – as I hear and see Kookaburras where I live every day. 

What tool/platform/app are you loving right now?

Nugs. It has been wonderful to watch live music by Sleater-Kinney and Wilco – while in lockdown in Australia, and during interruptions and cancellations to performing arts events in Australia.

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly has a great song about solutions for a “Stumbling Block”.

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

Open Innovation has powerful collaborative, community-based solutions for global challenges – such as the tobacco epidemic, the Coronavirus pandemic, and runaway climate change.

What was the best career advice you ever received? What was the worst career advice you ever received?

Best Career Advice – You’ll Never Walk Alone, The Kop, Anfield, Liverpool FC. 

Worst Career Advice – You’ll never work in this town again, from a Senior Professor after I spoke up about access to essential medicines in the National Australian media.

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

The Creative Commons needs to lift its ambitions to tackle the pressing Sustainable Development Goals in the future.

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ signals the need for intergenerational justice – the demand for long-term solutions to global challenges.

Have you registered for the 2021 CC Global Summit yet? Don’t worry if you haven’t, there is still time. Register here >>

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Our ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter’ series is taking us across the world, next up we head to Australia. Meet Dr. Muhammad Zaheer Abbas, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia. He has undertaken extensive research on public health dimensions of intellectual property laws. He has written about TRIPS Agreement’s public health flexibilities, like compulsory licensing (Journal of World Intellectual Property, 2018), parallel importation (Journal of Generic Medicines, 2021), and patent opposition (Global Public Health, 2020). He has evaluated the possibility of invoking trade-related security exceptions (ANZSIL Perspective, 2021), the practical implications of ‘vaccine nationalism’ (South Views 2020), and the importance of localized supply chains (South Views, 2021). He has also analyzed policy options like patent pooling (Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 2020), tiered pricing (Journal of Generic Medicines, 2020). Abbas has also considered the implications of free trade agreements (Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal, 2018) and evergreening (Journal of Generic Medicines, 2019) for affordable and equitable access to essential medicines. He has been providing expert commentary on the issue of access to vaccines and other COVID-related health technologies during the current pandemic.

Based in: Brisbane, Australia

Summit Session: Inefficiency of the TRIPS Agreement’s Article 31bis Mechanism: The Bolivia-Biolyse Case

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

I was introduced to Creative Commons by Professor Matthew Rimmer – previously my PhD supervisor, and currently my colleague and mentor at the Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Why are you an advocate for Open?

I have been advocating for improved access to affordable medicines for almost a decade now. I have mostly dealt with patent law barriers in accessing innovative health technologies. I understand the access barriers posed by copyright laws in the domain of education and science. I advocate for Open, as it is the way to more equitable and inclusive outcomes.

“Better sharing is key to a brighter future. We need to adopt inclusive and equitable approaches in terms of sharing the knowledge and resources, making sure that no one is left behind.”

What is your proudest achievement?

I am a modest early-career academic researcher eager to learn and contribute positively to society. I will see it as an achievement if I remain focused and consistent in making my humble efforts.

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

The best and satisfying part of my academic work is that it is motivated by concerns for humanity and aimed at protecting the public interest. It is frustrating that mostly nothing is done at national and international levels to address the adequately highlighted public policy concerns.

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

Life has been kind to me so far.

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

We must always raise our voice for justice and fairness. The safeguard mechanisms – like compulsory licensing – that we put in place in response to HIV/AIDS are not delivering their intended results. There is a need to revisit and fix the broken systems if we are serious in suppressing the current COVID-19 pandemic in a timely manner.

What was the best career advice you ever received?

Make values based decisions and try to build goodwill. Be humble, open-minded, and respectful, and acknowledge the contributions of others. 

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

Keep up the great work!

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

Better sharing is key to a brighter future. We need to adopt inclusive and equitable approaches in terms of sharing the knowledge and resources, making sure that no one is left behind.

Reserve a spot at the 2021 CC Global Summit, taking place virtually on September 20-24! Register here >>

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We’re back with another ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter‘ Q&A. Next up, Alissa Bigelow, a Program Facilitator for the Ontario Extend program. In her role as a Program Facilitator, she creates engaging Communities of Practice about the Ontario Extend program and the “Empowered Educator” micro-credential to connect post-secondary faculty across the province of Ontario. These sessions focus on building community while increasing digital fluency skills, and support faculty with the selection and evaluation of emerging technologies and new pedagogical practices in online and flexible learning environments. She is also an Instructional Design Technologist in the Centre for Teaching & Learning at Georgian College. In her role as an Instructional Design Technologist, she develops, implements and evaluates several software and educational technology pilot initiatives. She is passionate about researching new and emerging technologies that will improve the student learning experience. She has extensive background and experience with the Articulate 360 Suite, H5P and Pressbooks technologies, and a strong foundational knowledge of the principles of Universal Design for Learning & Open Pedagogy.

Based in: Barrie, Ontario – Canada

Summit Session: Building digital fluency skills and communities of practices through open access with the Ontario Extend program.

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

I have been an avid follower of Creative Commons for several years. As someone who is passionate about Open Educational practices and resources, Creative Commons has been an incredible source of information.

What was your favorite CC Global Summit?

Toronto, 2016

Why are you an advocate for Open?

I believe education is a right that should be available and accessible to everyone. My elementary school motto was “Knowledge is Power!” and I feel very strongly that this is true. Everyone should have access to learn and make the world a better place. There are so many injustices in the world, education should not be one of them.

“Everyone should have access to learn and make the world a better place. There are so many injustices in the world, education should not be one of them.”

What is your proudest achievement?

My four incredible children! (17, 16, 13, 12)

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

The best part of what I do is interact and educate people about Open Education. I find knowledge about OE, OER and OP varies greatly, and there is a need to advocate for growing these initiatives. Working with closed minded folks who are stuck in their ways is definitely a challenge.

What is your favorite GIF?

via GIPHY

What tool/platform/app are you loving right now?

I love MS Teams! This app has enabled me to create community with our remote faculty throughout the pandemic. It’s great for asynchronous and synchronous interaction and group work. The integrations with other Microsoft products is incredible and it is a very powerful tool.

What’s one new trend that you think the CC community should look out for?

Open technologies to facilitate HyFlex delivery. Right now, the technologies we are using for this delivery method are quite expensive and proprietary. It would be great to see some new open source technologies that can facilitate a more broad application worldwide.

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

I was told I’d never get into University to become a teacher with the grades I had in high school (79% average overall). Instead, I pursued a career in Computer Networking & Engineering, which led to software support in education, which led to teaching post-secondary computer networking courses, which led to my current Instructional Design Technologist position. I have not only overcome that set back, I have crushed it!

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

Find your comfort zone and push the boundaries. Experiment!

What was the best career advice you ever received?

The best career advice I’ve received has been in the form of support from my colleagues. I can’t narrow down one that particularly stuck out for me, but others’ confidence in my skills and abilities has been key to my successes. 

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

Wow! Congratulations & cheers to 20+ more!

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

Exactly that. Let’s share to make a brighter future for everyone.

Whether you’re an activist, advocate, librarian, educator, lawyer, creator, or technologist, the 2021 CC Global Summit has got you covered. Join us September 20-24 for an unforgettable experience! Register here >>

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