About this resource

    Type of resources
    Reading
    Education level(s)
    College / Upper Division (Undergraduates), Graduate / Professional
    Primary user(s)
    Student, Teacher, Librarian
    Subject area(s)
    Arts and Humanities, History, Law
    Language(s)
    English
    Cluster
    Academic Structures and Institutions
    Last updated
    12 January 2025
    Reading

    Advancing Equity and Innovation in Research Publishing: Time for a New Era in the Open Access Movement?

    By Tom Drake

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    Level College / Upper Division (Undergraduates), Graduate / Professional · For Student, Teacher, Librarian · Language English

    Abstract

    Today marks a significant milestone as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) announces a new Open Access policy, representing a departure from traditional practices. This policy will cease support for individual article publishing fees, known as APCs, and mandate the use of preprints while advocating for their review. This blog looks at the rationale behind this change, exploring the persistent challenges in research publishing and the potential of preprint servers as a solution. It also examines the implications for researchers and research users, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of this new approach. Finally, it offers recommendations for research funders and researchers to embrace this shift towards equity and innovation in research publishing.

    Keywords Open Access Policy · Article Publishing Fees · Preprint · Academic Publishing