Preprints: Powering the future of publishing – with Dr. Jonny Coates – Jülich Open Science Speaker Series (JOSSS)
The current scientific publishing process is slow and broken. Preprints offer a timely solution for transparent, openly accessible scientific communication.
Monica Gonzalez-Marquez
About this Lecture
Abstract
The scientific publishing process is broken. The time it takes to publish and the amount of data required are increasing year on year. More recently government bodies from both the US and EU have released statements declaring that scientific research should be free to post and access. Although there are many different open access approaches to address these issues, preprints perhaps offer the best solution. Preprints are manuscripts shared online prior to journal organised peer review. In the life sciences, preprints have been on the rise since the launch of bioRxiv in 2013. During the COVID-19 pandemic, science underwent a cultural shift with 25% of the research being first shared as a preprint. This lecture will provide an overview of the preprint landscape and outline the role of preprints as the future of scientific publishing.
Recording
Please find the slides and transcript of the lecture as well as the transcribed questions and answers in the JuOSC collection item doi:10.34734/FZJ-2023-04863.
This is a revised ChatGPT 3.5 generated summary of the 8 page transcript:
The lecture explores the transformative role of preprints in addressing challenges within the scientific publishing landscape. Associated with ASAPBio, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing preprints in the life sciences, the speaker critiques the current academic and publishing systems, emphasizing the prolonged timeline for traditional journal publications.
The discussion underscores the escalating demands for data and supplementary materials in journal submissions, contributing to delays and creating an uneven playing field. The proposed "publish-review-curate" system advocates for preprints to lead dissemination, challenging the conventional integration of dissemination, peer review, and curation/prestige within journals. The emphasis lies in the urgent need to reevaluate and streamline the existing publishing structure, acknowledging its adverse effects on the prompt sharing of scientific knowledge.
Preprints emerge as a viable solution, offering rapid dissemination with a 48-hour accessibility window and an avenue for community feedback. The historical context traces the growth of preprints, especially since the establishment of bioRxiv in 2013, with particular relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preprints are presented as a means to diminish barriers, enabling global accessibility and fostering more inclusive scientific collaboration.
Addressing concerns surrounding preprints, the speaker refutes the misconception that lack of peer review equates to inferior quality, highlighting the unique advantages of swift correction and updates inherent to the preprint system. The discussion extends to preprint peer review initiatives, emphasizing a more collaborative and reasonable review process. The speaker underscores the room for experimentation with preprints, encouraging innovation in formats and processes.
The lecture concludes by linking preprints to the principles of Open Science, critiquing the escalating costs of article processing charges (APCs), and advocating for a system where preprints play a central and transformative role. The proposed system aligns with recent calls from both the European Council and the US government for transparent, equitable, and open access to scholarly publications.
In summary, the lecture emphasizes the pivotal role of preprints in reshaping scientific publishing, overcoming challenges, and fostering a collaborative, accessible, and equitable global research community.
Why join?
This lecture is intended for researchers who like more information about what preprints are. Dr. Coats will discuss their many benefits for both science and research careers.
Our Speaker
Dr. Jonny Coates completed his PhD in immunology at the University of Sheffield and then undertook postdocs at Cambridge and Queen Mary University of London. During this time he became interested in Metaresearch and open access, specifically preprints. When the COVID pandemic shut labs, he undertook multiple projects investigating the scientific response to the pandemic. He is now the Associate Director at ASAPbio, a non-profit organization that promotes the productive use of preprints in the life sciences.
How to join?
The Series will use a hybrid format where our speakers talk directly in front of a live audience as well as be telecast via Zoom. This format was selected to minimize barriers to participation.
The speaker series takes place at Forschungszentrum Jülich’s Central Library. You can also attend online via Zoom. The lectures will be recorded and made public afterwards.
If you intend to participate in-person please write additionally a mail to: m.gonzalez-marquez@fz-juelich.de
We look forward to seeing you there!
Jülich Open Science Speaker Series
Forschungszentrum Jülich’s Central Library (ZB) invites all scientists at Jülich, Helmholtz and our international guests to join the conversation on current developments in Open Science.
Forschungszentrum Jülich’s Central Library (ZB)
“We‘re implementing a theory driven open science practice at Jülich. This is both challenging and very exciting, as we move towards providing researchers at Jülich with a cohesive vision of how open science can benefit their scientific work as well as society at large,” says Monica Gonzalez-Marquez, who is responsible for the planning and implementation of open science activities of Jülich’s Central Library.
Your contact at ZB
Monica Gonzalez-Marquez
E-mail: forschungsdaten@fz-juelich.de
Research Data team