Open Science Institute · Theme
Open Science for Society
This theme carries the institute’s work on the practice of open science itself: research infrastructure anyone can use, open access publishing, and the methods that make research transparent and reusable, such as preregistration and open licensing.
Theme lead · Martin Etzrodt, PhD
Biophoton Lab
Project lead: Martin Etzrodt, PhD · Started 11/2025
This research initiative is pioneering the creation of advanced detection setups to perform measurements and interpret biological light emission for basic research and precision medicine by harnessing ultra-sensitive single-photon detection technologies capable of measuring 1-3.000 photons/cm²/s from organisms. We are supporting research in ultra-weak photon emissions from biological systems as potential biomarkers for physiological stability, stress states, and early disease processes.
References (4)
- Gurwitsch A. Die Natur des spezifischen Erregers der Zellteilung. Archiv für mikroskopische Anatomie und Entwicklungsmechanik. 1923;100:11-40. doi:10.1007/BF02111053
- reviewed in Babcock NS. Open quantum systems theory of ultraweak ultraviolet photon emissions: Revisiting Gurwitsch’s onion experiment as a prototype for quantum biology. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal. 2024;26:78-91. doi:10.1016/j.csbj.2024.11.030
- Salari V, Seshan V, Frankle L, et al. Imaging ultraweak photon emission from living and dead mice and from plants under stress. J Phys Chem Lett. 2025;16:4354-4362. doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c03546
- Van Wijk R. Light in Shaping Life: Biophotons in Biology and Medicine. Geldermalsen: Meluna Research; 2014. ISBN: 9789081884327
Resources
- Open access publications
Papers and software from the institute and its pilots.
- Zenodo community (opens in a new tab)
The foundation’s open access archive on Zenodo.
- GitHub: Opening-Science (opens in a new tab)
Open source code and hardware, in the open.
In development
Preregistration & open science research
The institute’s preregistration and open-methods programme. In development.
Open Science Framework
An adaptation of the OSF (osf.io) concepts for preregistration and open research workflows. In development.
Collaboration Monster: open licensing work
Open collaboration licensing. This is in active research and development.