Watch out they are behind you: What can we practically do to reduce commercial control over our university ecosystems?
Danny Kingsley1, Hero McDonald2, Justin Shearer3, Amberyn Thomas4, Virginia Barbour5 1Australian National Centre For The Public Awareness Of Science, Acton, ACT, Australia2Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia3University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia4University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia5Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
The current research management, publishing and evaluation ecosystem is increasingly owned and controlled by a few very powerful companies. Our researchers and institutions are becoming pawns in a game designed almost exclusively to benefit commercial interests.
The move to Read and Publish deals with publishers has simply shifted the paywall. The rapid acceleration to a purely pay to publish model further entrenches publisher control over a broken system. There remains a desperate need to shift the scholarly ecosystem to one that is sustainable and equitable.
Australia is out of step internationally in relation to uptake of more diverse and transformative open access options, discussions around open research and research assessment, and its dedication to university rankings. The challenge of addressing these issues include a lack of awareness and understanding of the extent of the problem across individuals and institutions in academia. Another challenge is the deep embedding of these systems into the very fabric of our institutions. Unpicking this will be difficult. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the complexity of the issue and the high barriers to change.
This BoF discussion invites people who are aware of or concerned about this external control. The purpose is not to define the problem, nor to reaffirm our commitment to a more open and equitable scholarly communication eco-system – this has been exercised many times over. The goal of the discussion is to develop some concrete new ideas about ways we (actors) can exert some influence over this system.
Biography
Dr Danny Kingsley is a thought leader in the international scholarly communication space. She has consulted for multiple Australian universities since returning from the UK where she worked as the Deputy Director of Cambridge University Libraries (2015-2019). Her research as a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science centres on scholarly communication including the academic reward structure, scholarly infrastructure and open access advocacy. She established Open Access Australasia in 2012. She sits on multiple committees, including the Australian Academy of Science National Committee for Data in Science and the FORCE11 Board of Directors. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3636-5939
Hero Macdonald is currently University Librarian at Deakin University. In this role, Hero’s focus is on delivering Deakin Library’s new strategic plan, a plan that was co-designed with the university community and which positions open scholarship as an essential enabler of the University’s mission. Prior to this role, Hero has worked across a range of senior roles at the University of Melbourne, UNSW and Deakin University where they have established a strong track record of leading transformational change. Hero is an active member of their professional community, and current sits as a Director on the ALIA Board Director, a member of the CAUL Content Procurement Committee and a member of the Trove Strategic Advisory Committee.
Justin Shearer is the Associate Director, Research Information and Engagement in Scholarly Services at the University of Melbourne, with responsibility for collecting and processing research outputs, research digital scholarship, scholarly communications, and the University’s digitisation centre. He represents the Australasian Research Management Society on the Research Evaluation Group convened by the International Network of Research Management Societies. He was Manager, Research and Industry in the Faculty of Business and Economics focussed on grant and industry funding. His nine years’ experience in research management includes business storytelling, industry engagement, researcher development, research evaluation and the appropriate use of research metrics.
Dr Amberyn Thomas is Director, Learning and Research Services at The University of Queensland Library, with direct responsibility for the provision of faculty librarian services and services around the institutional repository UQ eSpace, open access, scholarly communication and publishing, research data management, and research impact and evaluation services. Amberyn has been immersed in the university sector for more than 30 years across a range of areas. She is an active member of the international scholarly communication sector, currently on the arXiv Member Advisory Board (since 2017).
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1205-0342