Findings are from a new global study ‘OA in physics: researcher perspectives’ commissioned by leading learned society physics publishers
A new global study from AIP Publishing, the American Physical Society (APS), IOP Publishing (IOPP) and Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA) has found that 82% of physics researchers based in Europe are unaware of Plan S.
Plan S aims for all publications reporting the results of publicly funded research to be published on an open access (OA) basis. Plan S was created by cOAlition S, an international consortium of 28 research funding and performing organisations that support Plan S.
Over 3,000 physical science researchers from across the globe participated in the OA in physics: researcher perspectives study, which was carried out by the physics society publishers to better understand and meet the needs of the physical science community as it relates to OA.
Of the small number of physicists who were aware of Plan S (18%), the key concerns focus on how Plan S will limit their publication choices, restrict the type of research that Plan S-compliant funders will support, and increase the financial burden on researchers who want to publish OA research.
Penelope Lewis, chief publishing officer at AIP Publishing said: “Scientific progress and universal access to knowledge are intrinsically linked. For OA to have the biggest impact in driving true scientific progress, its complexities and challenges must be fully understood and addressed, through conversations and policies developed with funders, institutions, publishers, and the researchers themselves.”
Jeff Lewandowski, director of publishing at the American Physical Society said: “Funders and policy-makers across the globe need to engage with researchers, universities and publishers as they continue to introduce and evolve their OA policies. A collaborative and sustainable approach will ensure that the needs of all stakeholders are reflected, and that policies can be seamlessly adopted by researchers and those supporting them to bring their work from conception to publication.”
Media Contact:
Juliet Hannay
Juliet.Hannay@ioppublishing.org
About AIP Publishing
AIP Publishing’s mission is to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity by breaking barriers to open, equitable research communication and empowering researchers to accelerate global progress. AIP Publishing is a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and supports the charitable, scientific, and educational purposes of AIP through scholarly publishing activities on its behalf and on behalf of our publishing partners.
About APS
The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and throughout the world.
About IOP Publishing
IOP Publishing is a society-owned scientific publisher, delivering impact, recognition and value to the scientific community. Its product portfolio encompasses over 100 open access and hybrid journals, books, conference proceedings and a global science news programme, many of which are published in partnership with other learned societies. IOP Publishing is wholly owned subsidiary of the Institute of Physics, a not-for-profit society.
About Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA)
Optica Publishing Group is a division of the society Optica (formerly OSA), Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide. It publishes the largest collection of peer-reviewed content in optics and photonics, including 18 prestigious journals, the society’s flagship member magazine, and papers from more than 835 conferences, including 6,500+ associated videos. With over 400,000 journal articles, conference papers and videos to search, discover and access, Optica Publishing Group represents the full range of research in the field from around the globe.