Author Archives: Stephen

Some progress on Open Access

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Stephen

This morning there have been two very interesting developments on open access. First, Doug Kell, Chief Executive of the BBSRC, responded on his blog to my open letter. His reply is detailed and goes some way to clarifying progress in … Continue reading →

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An Open Letter on Open Access to UK Research Councils

Posted on 21 February 2012 by Stephen

Short Version Please read the Wellcome Trust’s policy on open access. And then adopt it. Thank you.

Posted in Academic publishing, BBSRC, elsevier, Open Access, RCUK, science, Scientific Life, Wellcome Trust | Comments Off on An Open Letter on Open Access to UK Research Councils

Elsevier Break Dance

Posted on 18 February 2012 by Stephen

Lately, it’s all been getting a bit intense. Not tetchy, as at the Scholarly Kitchen in recent days, but still pretty focused. Four of the last five posts here have all been about the arguments surrounding the Elsevier boycott and … Continue reading →

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An Open Letter to Elsevier

Posted on 12 February 2012 by Stephen

Since the beginning of the argument with Elsevier over their support of the Research Works Act (RWA) in the US and the announcement of the boycott of the publisher, I have been keen to stimulate dialogue. Elsevier seems to be interested … Continue reading →

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How to access Open Access?

Posted on 7 February 2012 by Stephen

My train of thought is still running. Last week, taken aback by the revelation of Elsevier’s deep support for the Research Works Act, an anti open-access piece of US legislation, I declined to review a manuscript for the publisher and … Continue reading →

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Important Bus Business

Posted on 7 February 2012 by Stephen

This is going to add minutes to my life – every time I take the bus. And I have Guardian columnist Tim Dowling’s truculent teenage kids to thank for it. Disdaining the sorry business of relying on a published timetable … Continue reading →

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Guest post: Society Journals and the Research Works Act

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Stephen

My previous post on Elsevier and the Research Works Act (RWA) stimulated a conversation on Twitter with Benoit Bruneau about the possible impact on the journals of scientific societies of moves to open access publishing.  This is an aspect of … Continue reading →

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Why I chose to decline an invitation to review by Elsevier

Posted on 28 January 2012 by Stephen

All relationships suffer tensions from time to time, especially those based on love-hate. Scientists have a complex relationship with their publishers — they love to get published in high-impact journals (most of which are run by major publishing companies) but … Continue reading →

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More on Willetts’ Speech

Posted on 18 January 2012 by Stephen

In the days following Willetts’ big science policy speech, there had been a piece in Nature by Daniel Sarewitz and letters from disgruntled physical scientists to the EPSRC that in different ways highlighted the role of scientists in directing research funding. I was … Continue reading →

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Moving Molecules

Posted on 14 January 2012 by Stephen

Regular readers will know that molecules are my thing, that my scientific endeavours are devoted to revealing the intricate architecture of proteins — the molecular machines that sustain life. They will also know that I have at times struggled with the … Continue reading →

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