Open Access Scientific Journals

This is a really cool idea. The importance of creating a more autonomous scientific community has been overlooked through the years by many (at least to my knowledge), and this effort is not only very worhwhile, but could be potentially very powerful.

Via Mind Hacks:

The development of science needs the free flow of information, so scientists can both build on and test the work of others, and so the public can make informed democratic decisions about the role of science in society.

Most scientific journals are run by publishing companies that own the articles they publish. In fact, the results from the majority of publically funded science appears in these journals.

Why is so much science owned by private companies ? Part of the reason is that scientists jobs often depend on how many publications they produce, and there is a hierarchy of journals, so publishing in some journals (typically the more established and privately owned ones) counts for more in a scientist's career.

Many scientists would like to publish in open access journals but don't want their careers to suffer or to be out of a job.

The following suggests some ways in which you can support open access journals to boost their value in the science community, prevent career dilemmas, and help open up scientific research for the benefit of all.

More of this article

Directory of Open Access Journals