The journal Quantum (https://quantum-journal.org) is taking a somewhat similar approach, though they have not been able to get the cost to zero...though you can pay nothing (more of an honor system). See https://quantum-journal.org/update-on-quantums-publication-fees/ for details.
It is an interesting approach, journals for researchers run by researchers. The hard part is to get enough "rich" researchers to not pay for open- or closed access (library pays). A lot of journals are driven by professional societies. To get around those, it would mean increasing memberships to the professional societies, i.e. a bit more socialist approach. So, changing business models is not just a publisher issue I think. If we could convince one society to go free open-access, it might help get the transformation started. Bert On Mon, May 10, 2021 at 12:14 PM Peter Murray-Rust <pm...@cam.ac.uk> wrote: > Introducing Jean-Sebastian Caux, > > J-S is a theoretical condensed matter physicist developing the strategy > and practice of Diamond Access (no-fee publication/reading) in science. > This started with physics and he is now adding chemistry. I think BO will > be a great place to find volunteers and information. > > He writes: > > >>>> > > Separately, on the SciPost side, here follow a couple of points worth > sharing. > > After establishing our activities in Physics, we'd really like to extend > our services to the community in Chemistry. > > The idea is to apply precisely the same guiding principles > (not-for-profit; academics-led; open refereeing etc, see > https://scipost.org/about) while developing the Chemistry branch. As a > kind of separate note, it's important to understand that SciPost is > proposing a very different business model than those currently discussed > (APCs, etc). The details of this are explained at > https://scipost.org/finances/business_model/ . > > We have already defined a couple of journals, most importantly SciPost > Chemistry (see https://scipost.org/SciPostChem/about) which we would like > to breathe life into. > > The most important foundation stone for this is to build an Editorial > College in Chemistry. We already have a handful of people (see > https://scipost.org/colleges/chemistry) but we're looking for 30 - 50 > more to give proper momentum. Fellows should be academics with very high > reputation and with their heart in the right place as far as reforming > academic publishing is concerned. The workflow for Fellows is summarized at > https://scipost.org/submissions/editorial_workflow (the official by-laws > are at https://scipost.org/EdCol_by-laws). > > <<<< > > It is clear that "transformational agreements" , where funders pay the OA > costs (APCs) create more problems than they solve. If you are not employed > by a rich, Northern, university then you can't publish. I'm working with > groups in India and Latin America and it's clear we shall only be able to > publish in a Diamond Access journal. APCs of 2000 - 5000 USD are completely > beyond academics in the Global South or scientists not employed in rich > institutions (I am retired). I think the TAs allow publishers to increase > charges enormously and are globally and socially divisive. > > The answer is Diamond journals and preprints. > > I am working with J-S to search and index equations in physics journals > (it could also apply to chemical physics and physical chemistry). The > goals include: > * ontological help for authors > * novel search tools for readers > > If you believe that Diamond journals are the way forward or feel that the > Global South and non-academics get a bad deal from current publishing then > please join us. > > P > > -- > "I always retain copyright in my papers, and nothing in any contract I > sign with any publisher will override that fact. You should do the same". > > Peter Murray-Rust > Reader Emeritus in Molecular Informatics > Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry > University of Cambridge > CB2 1EW, UK > +44-1223-336432 > _______________________________________________ > Blueobelisk-discuss mailing list > Blueobelisk-discuss@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/blueobelisk-discuss >
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