In a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity within its editorial teams, AIP Publishing recently shared insights from its first demographic benchmarking study, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to enhance representation across its journals. The study, released late last year, offered a comprehensive analysis of the geography, gender, and ethnicity of authors, reviewers, board members, and editors associated with AIP Publishing.
Recognizing that the benchmarking report was merely the beginning of a more extensive initiative, AIP Publishing is now dedicated to formulating specific strategies aimed at understanding and expanding diversity, with a particular focus on editors across its journals.
One key area of immediate attention is editor recruitment. Acknowledging the need for a flexible approach, AIP Publishing aims to set demographic objectives at a journal-specific level, considering achievable goals over a designated period. The organization is acutely aware that the pursuit of diversity will require time and deliberate effort, especially when it comes to implementing changes within the existing portfolio.
The issue of gender diversity at the editorial level has been identified as a priority. AIP Publishing is actively working to increase female representation in editor positions, particularly in roles such as associate editors and Advisory Board members. While challenges persist, including the underrepresentation of women in certain academic roles, the organization is committed to addressing gender imbalances. Progress is already visible, with female representation in associate editor positions increasing from 20% to 27% and Advisory Board members from 26% to 32% between 2021 and 2023.
In terms of geographical diversity, the organization is actively working to reduce the dominance of North American editors. The percentage of Editorial Advisory Board members from North America decreased from 46% in 2021 to 41% in 2023, reflecting a concerted effort to diversify representation. Meanwhile, there has been stability in representation from Europe and a notable increase from Asia, aligning with the geographical distribution of authors.
AIP Publishing recognizes that newly launched titles present a significant opportunity for impactful change. Journals such as APL Energy, APL Machine Learning, and APL Quantum are setting ambitious goals, aiming for a 50:50 gender ratio of associate editors and Advisory Board members. Additionally, these journals are actively recruiting associate editors based in Asia.
While acknowledging that more work lies ahead, AIP Publishing celebrates the progress made in pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals for its editors. Individualized targets, set on a journal-by-journal basis, are expected to evolve as conversations and initiatives progress. The organization is also learning from other publishers, gathering insights and best practices to identify further opportunities within its portfolio.
Looking to the future, AIP Publishing plans to transition from estimated benchmarking to self-reporting through its submission platform, eJournal Press. This shift will enable more accurate tracking of demographics across various roles, including authors, reviewers, editors, and Advisory Board members. The organization is currently piloting this approach for two journals, with the aim of sharing valuable insights in 2024. AIP Publishing remains committed to fostering an inclusive scholarly community and looks forward to the positive impact of its ongoing efforts.
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