Transcript Open Access, Open Science: The View from Astrophysics Peter Coles (MPS) (@telescoper)

Research Hive Seminar
Open Access, Open Science:
The View from Astrophysics
Peter Coles (MPS)
(@telescoper)
The View from Astrophysics
- Why Open Access?
•Most research in my field (and other “blue skies”
subjects) is funded by the tax payer, so the tax payer
should have access to it.
•Public trust (climate change, fracking..)
•Open science is better science
•Does Open Access go far enough?
•Everything needed to reproduce the results should be
made public: data, analysis tools, the lot…
28 June, 2016
The View from Astrophysics
- Why Academic Journals?
•Most new astrophysics research has been available via
“Green” Open Access via the arXiv for > 20 years.
•Running costs are <$1M, met by donations
•Despite decreasing publication costs, subscriptions to
traditional academic publications have increased
•Huge profits for private companies and Learned
Societies
•NASA/ADS has historical papers back to 19th century
•Do we need these journals at all?
The View from Astrophysics
-Peer Review
• Does Peer Review really “add value”?
• Peer Review is not done by the journals, but
academics (i.e. you and me), usually for free.
• With a more radical publication model, peer review
could be much more effective..
• Astrophysics already leads in “citizen science”, e.g.
“Galaxy Zoo”.
• Is BICEP2 (http://bicepkeck.org/) a taste of the future?
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28 June, 2016
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The View from Astrophysics
-The Open Journal for Astrophysics
•The arXiv and NASA/ADS systems have already made
traditional journals virtually redundant
•Most papers are submitted to arXiv before peer review
•Gold Open Access is simply a rip-off
•The Open Journal for Astrophysics will be a free, open
access, community-reviewed “journal” based on the
arXiv
•http://vimeo.com/69860472
The View from Astrophysics
Any questions?
Thank you for listening!
Any Questions?
28 June, 2016