The open-access debate
Publishers are under increasing pressure to make journal papers free to all by abolishing subscriptions and making authors pay a fee instead. In this article, Rüdiger Voss welcomes the benefits that "open access" publishing brings, while John Enderby warns that this new publishing model comes at a price. According to… Read More
The Rise and Rise of Citation Analysis
Majority of scientific papers are currently available online. This article, by Dr. Lokman I. Meho, provides a historical background of citation analysis, impact factor, new citation data sources (e.g., Google Scholar, Scopus, NASA's Astrophysics Data System Abstract Service, MathSciNet, ScienceDirect, SciFinder Scholar, Scitation/SPIN, and SPIRES-HEP), as well as h-index, g-index,… Read More
Open Access and the Progress of Science
This article by Alma Swan discusses whether our present system of scholarly communication aids the progress of science or gets in the way. According to the article open access model of publishing offers the most promise for advancing science. Swan has more than two decades of experience in medical cell… Read More
Tips for Publishing in Scientific Journals
Publications are the means by which scientists publicise their work, and ultimately, it is by their papers that these publications are judged. A string of impressive publications can propel a young scientist to the next academic stage, whereas an insufficient publication record can derail a career. This paper by Katrina… Read More
From Peer Review to Fear Review
Are data and conclusions reported in peer review journals sound and trustworthy? According to Dr. Elizabeth M. Whelan, we can no longer assume that peer review journals are free of "junk science." Dr. Whelan is president of the American Council on Science and Health. Read More
Open Access to Research and the individual responsibility of researchers
Open archives (the "green road") represent the most efficient way of providing full open access through authors’ self-deposits. In this article, Thierry Chanier takes a short tour around the scientific publication world. According to him, though free / open access to research findings have been officially acknowledged, the traditional organisation… Read More
Public Policy and the Politics of Open Access
Today, open access (in the form of both self-archiving and open access journals) is routinely discussed and debated at an institutional-level, within research-funding bodies, nationally, and internationally. The debate has moved out of the library and publisher communities to take a more central place in discussions on the ‘knowledge economy’,… Read More
When Is Open Access Not Open Access?
As open access grows in prominence, so too has confusion about what open access means, particularly with regard to unrestricted use of content. According to the author, Catriona J. MacCallum, this confusion is being promulgated by journal publishers at the expense of authors and funding agencies wanting to support open… Read More
Making Science Free to All
Historically, scientific journals pay for peer reviews, editing, and other costs through ads and subscription fees. Subscriptions often amount to hundreds of dollars per year, posing financial hurdles to readers, especially when multiplied by many journals. According to Harold Varmus, a scientist and former director of the National Institutes of… Read More
The Future of Print Publishing and Paid Content
It is undeniable that the economics of print publishing are very different today than what they were previously. More content is available for free on the web than any media company could ever have imagined. Most of the discussion about the future of print publishing and paid content centers on… Read More
