Concerns Related to Scientific Publishing | 25 Jul 2023

Source: TH

Why in News?

The recently approved National Research Foundation is seen as a leading voice for accessible, equitable, and fiscally responsible Scientific-Publishing.

• Communicating research is an integral part of scientific endeavor. It advances scientific understanding and bridges science and society.

What is the Process of Scientific-Publishing?

• Academic Publishing:
  • Academic publishing starts with scientists submitting their research findings to journals.
  • These manuscripts undergo peer review, where experts provide voluntary comments to ensure rigorous and validated research.
  • After acceptance, the paper is published either online or in print, making the work accessible to the wider community.
• Pay to Read Model:
  • Traditional academic publishing relies on a 'pay to read' model, where libraries and institutes pay fees to access published research.
  • This system restricts access to scientific material, particularly in the Global South, where institutions may struggle to afford subscription fees.
• Pay to Publish Model:
  • An alternative approach is the gold open-access model, where authors pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) to make their work freely available online.
    • While this promotes open access, it has raised concerns about financial implications for researchers.

What are the Issues Related to Scientific Publishing in India?

• Profits from Public Money:
  • Academic publishing is a lucrative industry, with a worldwide revenue of USD 19 billion and wide profit margins of up to 40%.
  • The issue lies in the fact that these profits are derived from public funds but directed towards a select few companies, whereas academic scientific research is intended to be a non-profit endeavour.
  • India's research funding has seen modest increases and stagnation, making the high APCs of Gold Open-Access (OA) journals a challenge for scientists.
    • Gold OA is a type of open-access publishing model that allows unrestricted and immediate access to scholarly articles online without any subscription or payment barriers.
• Predatory Publishing:
  • India faces challenges with predatory publishing. Predatory journals exploit the "pay-to-publish" model without providing adequate peer review and editorial services, resulting in low-quality publications that could undermine the credibility of Indian research.
• Lack of Open Access:
  • Access to scientific research papers often remains restricted due to subscription-based models or expensive paywalls.
  • This hampers the dissemination of knowledge and collaboration among researchers.
• Plagiarism and Ethics:
  • Some researchers, due to various reasons, resort to plagiarism or other unethical practices, which can degrade the quality and reliability of Indian research publications.
• Funding Constraints:
  • Limited funding and resources for research and publishing can lead to challenges in meeting publication costs, including article processing charges for open-access journals.
• Research Evaluation:
  • There has been an overemphasis on journal impact factor as a measure of research quality, which may encourage researchers to publish in high-impact journals without considering the relevance or contribution of their work.

Is there any Workaround for the Cost?

• The government is exploring alternatives, such as 'One Nation, One Subscription,' which provides access to scholarly publications at a fixed cost but may increase commercial publishers' monopoly.
• Another approach is to shift from open access to open publishing, establishing a freely accessible and high-quality online repository managed by professionals.
  • This repository allows continuous evaluation and engagement with reviews from experts and the public, moving away from numerical metrics for academic research evaluation.

Conclusion

• India's efforts to rethink academic publishing can lead the world by prioritizing equitable access to research.
• By implementing innovative models and leveraging the newly approved National Research Foundation, India can make strides towards accessible and transformative research publishing, benefiting not only its scientific community but society at large.