Author Archives: Stephen

Elsevier, the Research Works Act and Open Access: where to now?

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Stephen

If Elsevier calculated that its withdrawal of support for the Research Works Act (RWA) would neutralise the arguments stirred up around academic publishing, I think the company is mistaken. I certainly hope so. Things may have gone a little quiet … Continue reading →

Posted in Open Access, Scientific Life | Tagged , , , | 37 Comments

Libel Reform: the endgame?

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Stephen

It has been a long and winding road but tonight the journey towards libel reform in England and Wales paused in the historic Great Hall of the Inner Temple to take stock. The wheels are turning and the machine of government … Continue reading →

Posted in Libel Reform | Tagged | 5 Comments

The road well trodden

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Stephen

Scientists should do this. Journalists should do that. And eventually we will live in a world where the media reporting of science achieves perfection. At least that is the hypothesis. The hypothesis was put to the test at the Royal … Continue reading →

Posted in Science & Media | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Science: the bargain for funding

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Stephen

On the Guardian web-site today you will find a piece by myself and Imran Khan of CaSE which is a response to an attack on scientists for striking a faustian bargain with business.   The attack was written by Ananyo … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Science & Politics | Tagged , , , | 43 Comments

Some progress on Open Access

Posted on February 27, 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 →

Posted in Open Access, Science | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

An Open Letter on Open Access to UK Research Councils

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Stephen

Short Version Please read the Wellcome Trust’s policy on open access. And then adopt it. Thank you.   Long Version Please read the Wellcome Trust’s policy on open access. It’s short so I’ve pasted it below. The policy states (with … Continue reading →

Posted in Open Access, Science, Scientific Life | Tagged , , , , , | 60 Comments

Elsevier Break Dance

Posted on February 18, 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 →

Posted in Fun, Scientific Life | Tagged , | 6 Comments

An Open Letter to Elsevier

Posted on February 12, 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 →

Posted in Open Access, Scientific Life | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

How to access Open Access?

Posted on February 7, 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 →

Posted in Open Access, Scientific Life | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

Important Bus Business

Posted on February 7, 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 →

Posted in Fun, Scientific Life | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Guest post: Society Journals and the Research Works Act

Posted on January 31, 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 →

Posted in Open Access, Science, Scientific Life | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments

Why I chose to decline an invitation to review by Elsevier

Posted on January 28, 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 →

Posted in Open Access, Science, Scientific Life | Tagged , , , | 58 Comments