Promoting sustainability in scholarly publishing: the role of editors
2020 was a turning point in science communication with the global pandemic revealing the limitations of our current models and raising questions about how we, as editors can – and should – influence scientific communication.
Sustainability, in terms of managing the Earth’s resources, is often considered to be unrelated to editorial and research activities; but careful husbandry of available resources is at the heart of a sustainable scientific ecosystem. As editors we need to investigate how we can promote more sustainable research and equable systems of communication, and we need to carefully consider our influence on research that respects the Earth’s resources. Implicit is the need to ensure diversity, and to avoid niche publishing that excludes participation and partnership around the world, and which overstretches available resources.
These vital topics were considered by key speakers at the conference, and delegates participated in debates via the EASE Forum Live! sessions.
The programme included presentations, case studies and discussions on the following topics:
- Keynote: Sustainability in research: editorial challenges and opportunities
- Debate: Preprints are a more inclusive and sustainable method of scholarly communication than journals
- Presentations: promoting gender, cultural and geographic diversity in scientific journals
- Panel discussion: How local journals are using technology to ensure sustainability
- Presentations: Editing and publishing in times of crisis – 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, what have we learned and which changes will stay?
- Presentation: What environmental responsibilities do editor and publishers have?
- Meeting the challenges of publishing in a world of politicised science
Each session included consideration of one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to question how the work, experiences and behaviours of editors, publishers and researchers can influence and help to achieve the SDGs.
Conference sponsors
We are hugely grateful to our sponsors who supported our Conference during these unprecedent times and enabling us to keep our registration fees low. Please visit our Conference Sponsors page, and give your support by clicking on their logos and visiting their websites.
Sponsored delegates
We are grateful to several sponsors who provided funding to support delegates to attend the Conference free of charge. These places were provided to applicants in the following categories:
- Women working in editorial roles in developing countries
- Early career editors, working in editing roles for less than 5 years
- Freelance editors
- Early career editors in developing countries, sponsored by ARPHA/Pensoft
EASE would like to thank all those who have provided sponsorship for these delegates.