Author Archives: Stephen

Your Invitation to the Open Access Debate

Posted on 24 July 2012 by Stephen

I said the open access debate had been torrid. And it continues apace in the wake of last week’s announcements from the UK government and RCUK, the organisation that represents the common interests of Britain’s Research Councils. This week at … Continue reading →

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UK Government Goes For Broke on Open Access

Posted on 16 July 2012 by Stephen

Well that was quick. Less than a month after the Finch working group published its recommendations on the future of open access, UK science minister David Willetts has responded, saying in effect “Let’s go for it.” The government has taken … Continue reading →

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The Young Atheist’s Handbook by Alom Shaha

Posted on 14 July 2012 by Stephen

Don’t be misled by the title: this is a book about love. Love for life, love for family and love for curiosity, which leads — circularly — to a love affair with books. Don’t be misled by the title: this … Continue reading →

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The Entrepreneurial State by Mariana Mazzucato

Posted on 12 July 2012 by Stephen

This is not new since Mariana Mazzucato’s breezy pamphlet, The Entrepreneurial State, was published a year ago, but it was new to me. I’ve just finishing reading it, having snagged one of the copies that she brought to June’s fascinating Science Question … Continue reading →

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Open Access by Peter Suber

Posted on 5 July 2012 by Stephen

There has been a fairly torrid debate over open access over the last six months (even longer for aficionados). For people who look in only occasionally it must seem like a storm that swirls around the same arguments time and … Continue reading →

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Open Access: Who Pays the Copy-editor?

Posted on 2 July 2012 by Stephen

My article on open access in the New Scientist provoked an email from copy-editor Miranda Potter. Starting from the article’s mention of my recent paper in PLoS ONE, she raises the question of who is going to pay for copy-editing … Continue reading →

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An Eye for an Eye

Posted on 1 July 2012 by Stephen

I have the feeling that there have been too many words on this blog of late. I need a break and wonder if the beleaguered reader does too. Since I happened to be in the sunshine on London’s South Bank … Continue reading →

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Finch Report: the question of costs

Posted on 27 June 2012 by Stephen

Last week, having quickly digested the executive summary of the Finch Report on open access (OA), I told you it was complicated. I’ve now read the report in its entirety, along with a large swathes of blogospheric commentary. I’m still decidedly of the view … Continue reading →

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Rubicon

Posted on 19 June 2012 by Stephen

This is a big deal for me: my first ever article in New Scientist – a magazine that I read in the library in Ballymena as a teenager. Pardon me for preening a little. What’s it about?

Posted in Blogging, new scientist, Open Access, Science & Media | Comments Off on Rubicon

The Finch Report on open access: it’s complicated

Posted on 19 June 2012 by Stephen

A committee set up by government was never going to foment a revolution. And so it has proved to be. The recommendations of the Finch Report released today mark a cautious, measured step in the right direction, but it is nevertheless … Continue reading →

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