Transparency, open sharing, and reproducibility are core features of science, but not always part of daily practice. Journals can increase transparency and reproducibility of research by adopting the TOP Guidelines. TOP includes eight modular standards, each with three levels of increasing stringency. Journals select which of the eight transparency standards they wish to adopt for their journal, and select a level of implementation for the selected standards. These features provide flexibility for adoption depending on disciplinary variation, but simultaneously establish community standards.

• Article introducing the TOP Guidelines, Science : Full Text | Summary | pdf

The TOP Guidelines are the result of work by a diverse group of researchers, journal editors, funders, and society leaders from behavioral and social sciences.  The purpose of the TOP Guidelines is to provide templates of policies and procedures that journals can adopt to encourage greater transparency and reproducibility of research in the published record.  The Guidelines are modular and have multiple levels so that journals can adopt part or all of the standards, and can select a level of stringency that is most appropriate for them.  This simultaneously provides flexibility and offers the benefits of standards. Organization signatories are expressing their support for the principles expressed in the TOP Guidelines.

Details at http://cos.io/top

Now that the OAS has achieved 501(c)(3) status and can commence normal operations, per the charter, applications are being sought:

Article II: The OAS Board of Directors

Section 1. The control of this organization shall be vested in the OAS Board of Directors.

Section 2. There shall be a nomination process and election to form the OAS Board of Directors within 6 months of the OAS commencing operation. During the startup phase of the organization, all member classes will be welcomed based on requirements found in Article V, until such time that a membership committee can be formed.

Section 3. The OAS Board of Directors shall consist of five full members of the OAS. The executive director of OAS shall be an ex-officio member of the OAS Board of Directors without voting privilege, but attends meetings for the purpose of keeping the OAS board advised on the state of the organization.

Section 4. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected for a term of no more than three consecutive years.

Section 5. A simple majority of members shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors.

Section 6. So that Associate Members have a voice in the society, they may appoint a spokesperson to sit in on Board of Directors meetings who can convey the wishes of Associate members to the board.  The Associate Members spokesperson shall be an ex-officio member of the OAS Board of Directors without voting privilege In lieu of actual meeting attendance, a written statement can be submitted by the representative.

For those interested, please complete the OAS_board_application and return it to the email listed within it.

A vote of the membership will be convened within 30 days.