AGU, a leading organization in advancing Earth and space science, continues its commitment to equitable open science by announcing the conversion of Water Resources Research (WRR) to a fully open access journal. Starting from 1 January 2024, WRR will be accessible to a global audience without subscription barriers, ensuring that valuable research on Earth’s water movement and management reaches a broader community.
The decision to transition Water Resources Research to open access stems from the strong support and advocacy of the hydrology community, which has consistently emphasized the importance of equitable access to impactful research in the field. AGU’s Hydrology Section, through town hall discussions and surveys conducted over the past five years, has actively engaged with authors and its approximately 7,000 members to gauge their preferences.
Georgia Destouni, Editor-in-Chief of Water Resources Research and a hydrologist at Stockholm University, expressed the significance of open-access publication, stating, “Open-access publication is a cornerstone of open science, and arguably a moral imperative for openness in all aspects of our research. All can now view, cite and share the research published in WRR, promoting collaboration, innovation, and the advancement and impact of this inherently interdisciplinary field.”
Water Resources Research is the eleventh AGU journal to transition to open access, following the successful conversion of Geophysical Research Letters in 2022. AGU has steadily increased its open access publishing, with 55% of all AGU journal articles published as open access in 2022, and this year witnessing a further increase to 63%. The move aligns with AGU’s commitment to open science principles and the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data framework, promoting inclusivity, transparency, and sustainability in scientific publishing.
Authors submitting new articles to Water Resources Research from 12 July 2023, will be asked to agree to publish under a Creative Commons license while retaining copyright. Authors will have the option to pay an article publication charge (APC) of US$3,000 or request a fee waiver. AGU recognizes the financial challenges that open access fees may pose to authors and offers various funding options, including institutional agreements and open access accounts. Currently, 79 funding agreements across 37 countries cover more than 2,400 institutions worldwide. Additionally, authors from low- and middle-income countries are eligible for fee waivers. AGU has established an additional fund to cover waivers for authors in need who do not qualify for automatic waivers based on their country.
AGU’s commitment to open science extends beyond open access publishing and funding opportunities. The organization has implemented a dedicated help desk for authors, actively collaborates with repositories to ensure appropriate data and software sharing, and supports open-publishing practices such as preprints and meeting presentations. AGU also prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in scientific publishing.
The transition of Water Resources Research to open access will provide scientists, decision-makers, and policymakers with vital research insights into the physical, chemical, biological, and ecological processes of water systems. AGU is dedicated to making this knowledge accessible to a global audience through open access publishing.
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