This session is presented in two parts. The first three speakers will provide evidence of serious and even criminal problems in scholarly publishing. The next three speakers will propose actions researchers, universities and funders are taking to move away from the old model and create a better system.

Part I – Problems with Academic Publishing

The first part will provide an introduction to the flaws in our current method of creating a scientific record via commercial publishers. Flaws include the inability to correct errors, the proliferation of fraudulent publications, and the unfair profits private companies take from public funding. Speakers will describe why scientists can no longer depend on publishers to determine the scope and quality of research.

• The papermill problem – academic publishers fail to deliver ‘added value’ (Dorothy Bishop)
• The impossibility of correcting the scientific record (James Heathers)
• Publishers make immoral profits from taxpayer funding (TBD)

Part II – The Future of the Scientific Record

The second part will provide an overview of actions that researchers, universities, and funders are taking to improve the quality of the published record. These actions include: refusing to donate peer-reviewing expertise to profiteering publishers; making research open via repositories; publishing in community-run journals, and rewarding scientific contributions more fairly than via journal prestige.

• The end of standard peer review (Dan Goodman)
• Preprints and community publishing (Chris Chambers)
• How research assessment is already changing (Elizabeth Gadd)