Course description

Doctoral students in scientometrics often have various disciplinary backgrounds. As such, it is sometimes difficult to get a coherent overview of scientometrics. The CWTS Scientometrics Summer School aims to bridge this gap. It introduces participants to various methods and techniques utilizing scientometric data sources, such as scholarly publication metadata. The curriculum encompasses general quantitative methods, including causal inference, network analysis, text analysis, and visualization, alongside specific scientometric methods including citation and co-authorship analysis. It also critically examines major scientometric data sources like OpenAlex, Crossref, Dimensions, Scopus, and Web of Science, highlighting their strengths and limitations.

The summer school emphasizes practical application, transforming theoretical concepts into hands-on research through interactive data engagement. Visualization of science plays an important role in the course, with a special focus on the VOSviewer  software. The course integrates practical scientometric applications within broader theoretical frameworks, enriched by guest lectures offering diverse perspectives on scientific study. These discussions explore the progression of science, knowledge accumulation, and the social influences on scientific practice.

The summer school will be highly relevant to students pursuing a doctoral degree in scientometrics, but also to doctoral students from other fields who want to use scientometric methods in their research. The summer school takes an interactive format and engages students in practical exercises on data collection, analysis and visualization. There will be ample room for bringing your own perspective and questions to the summer school. Dedicated time will be available for student presentations and feedback from lecturers and peers.
The CWTS Scientometrics Summer School is unique in its exclusive focus on doctoral students and other (junior) researchers. Other summer schools and courses in scientometrics, offered both at CWTS  and elsewhere , address a mixed audience consisting of both researchers and practitioners. By focusing exclusively on doctoral students and (junior) researchers, the CWTS Scientometrics Summer School is able to provide scientometric education with a strong emphasis on fundamental scientific problems in the field of scientometrics.

The 2024 edition of the CWTS Scientometrics Summer School is scheduled for August 26 to September 06, towards the end of the summer break. Continuing its successful hybrid format, it will be hosted at Leiden University, the Netherlands, with online participation facilitated globally. Classes will be conducted only in the afternoons (13—17 CET) to accommodate international attendees.

Date

August 26 – September 06, 2024 (13 – 17h CET), excluding the weekend.

Deadline for registration

July 12, 2024 (registration opens April 1, 2024)

Location

• Online
• Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

Student requirements

• English proficiency.
• Master degree (any discipline).
• Currently following doctoral (PhD) training.
  • Early post-doctoral researchers (< 3y after PhD) are also welcome.
• No specific pre-requisite knowledge.

Lecturers

The summer school will be taught by leading scholars from CWTS. 

• Rodrigo Costas   (CWTS, Leiden University)
  Rodrigo is a senior researcher at CWTS. He focuses on the development of new social media metrics (altmetrics) and new scientometric applications and is a coordinator of the Engagement & Inclusion focal area.
• Nees Jan van Eck  (CWTS, Leiden University)
  Nees Jan is a senior researcher at CWTS. He develops tools and algorithms for analyzing and visualizing science, and is the main developer of the VOSviewer software. He is also head of the IT department at CWTS and a coordinator of the Information & Openness focal area.
• Vincent Traag  (CWTS, Leiden University). 
  Vincent is a senior researcher at CWTS. He is involved in network science and computational social science and is a member of the Engagement & Inclusion focal area. 
• Ludo Waltman  (CWTS, Leiden University).
  Ludo is professor of Quantitative Science Studies and is a coordinator of the Openness & Information focal area. In addition, he is co-developer of the VOSviewer software.
• André Brasil  (CWTS, Leiden University)
  André is a researcher at CWTS. His work primarily centres on responsible evaluation, scientometrics, and the promotion of open science. He contributes as a member of the UNESCO Chair for Diversity and Inclusion in Global Science and additionally serves as the coordinator of the CWTS Scientometrics Summer School.

Guest lecturers

The summer school will offer various perspectives on the study of science, provided by guest lecturers (TBD).

Preliminary programme

Week 1
Day 1    Introduction
Day 2    Data sources & data collection
Day 3    Measurement, operationalization & indicators 
Day 4    Responsible evaluation
Day 5    Network analysis & visualization I

Week 2
Day 6    Network analysis & visualization II
Day 7    Causal inference and statistics
Day 8    Open Science practices
Day 9    Applications & Future directions
Day 10    Student presentations

Intensity

PhD level education.
Equivalent to about 3 European Study Credits (≈ 75 hours).

Registration

The registration fee is € 300 for online participation and € 450 for participation on-site. When participating on-site, travel and lodging will have to be arranged separately. The maximum number of participants in the summer school is 40, of which 20 online and 20 on-site. Participation will be determined in the order of registration. Participants are expected to bring their own laptop, which is required for some of the practical exercises.

Fee waiver

If you are unable to pay the registration fee, you can apply for a fee waiver to participate in the summer school free of charge. There will be five such fee waivers available. Please send a motivational letter including your CV no later than March 4, 2024 to summerschool@cwts.leidenuniv.nl. You will receive a decision by April 1, 2024.

Contact

For more information or questions, please mail to summerschool@cwts.leidenuniv.nl.