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Upcoming Seminar: Scientific Publishing in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities

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June 3, 2017

Many changes are underway and more lie ahead in the world of scientific journal publishing, which is evolving rapidly in exciting yet disruptive leaps and bounds. But these changes are bringing new pressures The growth of online, often open access,  publishing; increased institutional pressure to publish in ISI-rated journals; and escalating demands on mostly volunteer editors and peer reviewers all are taking their toll on academia. Additionally, ‘predatory' online journals are taking advantage of the 'publish or perish' pressure on researchers.  

Given these challenges it is timely to critically reflect on the institutional structures involved with scholarly publishing and how this essential activity is rewarded. At the same time, it also necessary to consider how to maintain academia’s credibility, given the apparent explosion of scholarly fraud and manipulation.

This seminar brings together experienced editors and staff and PhDs at Wageningen University to discuss how academic publishing will continue to evolve. Are there new publishing models that can better innovate how publishing is organized and financed? What are the challenges and opportunities of scientific journal publishing in the interdisciplinary and international world of scholarship on environment and society? As publishers, editors, and communities of scholars, how can we provide not only access to, but also support, assistance, and tangible rewards for all who enrich us so much through their intellectual labour?

This seminar will take place in C67, Leeuwenborch, from 13:00-14:30 on June 13th.

Following an introduction by David Sonnenfeld, we will hold a panel discussion on the following questions (13:00 to 14:30):

Question #1:    What key aspects of the rapidly changing landscape of scientific journal publishing are affecting your journal and its editorial operations? How are they doing so?

Question #2:    What threats to scientific integrity and publication ethics has your journal encountered in, say, the last 1-2 years?  How is your journal addressing such challenges?

Question #3:    What innovations would you like to see in scientific journal publishing over the next 5-10 years that would strengthen scientific scholarship, policy analysis, and informed social practice around the world?