YOUR GO-TO INTELLIGENCE RESOURCE FOR THE SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING INDUSTRY

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) continue to reinforce their longstanding collaboration, with a special offer for DOAJ-indexed publishers to attend OASPA's upcoming conference in Lisbon, Portugal, from September 16-18, 2024. As part of this partnership, DOAJ publishers are eligible for a 20% discount on ticket prices, highlighting the close ties between these two organizations in their shared mission to advance open access publishing.

For years, DOAJ and OASPA have worked hand in hand to raise the standards and reputation of open access publishing. Their joint initiatives include founding and leading the "Think. Check. Submit" campaign, developing the "Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing," and launching the Open Access Journals Toolkit. These efforts have made significant contributions to improving transparency, quality, and best practices in the open access landscape.

DOAJ has also played an integral role in the governance of OASPA. Notably, Lars Bjørnshauge, the founder of DOAJ, and a DOAJ representative, have both served on the OASPA Board of Directors, with the current Chair of the Board being a key figure from DOAJ since October 2023.

The OASPA conference has long been a highlight on the scholarly communications calendar, consistently offering rich content and drawing a diverse audience. This year, the event will be held in person at the Altis Grand Hotel in Lisbon, a welcome return to face-to-face interactions after several years of virtual conferences.

The theme of the 2024 conference, "Working Towards Making Equitable Open Access a Reality," will focus on critical and timely topics in open scholarly communication. Participants can expect engaging discussions and workshops aimed at driving forward the goal of equitable access to scholarly knowledge.

The conference, taking place from September 16-18, 2024, promises to be a key event for anyone involved in open access publishing. It offers a unique opportunity for networking, sharing best practices, and discussing the future of open scholarship.

The collaboration between DOAJ and OASPA continues to drive progress in open access publishing, and the 2024 OASPA conference in Lisbon is set to be a pivotal event. By offering discounted access to DOAJ-indexed publishers, OASPA underscores its commitment to fostering a more equitable and transparent open access ecosystem. This conference will further contribute to the ongoing dialogue and efforts needed to make open access a reality for all.