This week, we learn about Elsevier’s new AI tool – ScienceDirect AI – and explore problems with the modern peer review system. We amplify a call for interest in contributing to a new image manipulation detection workflow and signpost an upcoming ORCID Community Town Hall webinar. We announce that Open Pharma will be a bronze sponsor of the ALPSP 2025 University Press Redux, and we spotlight a webinar by Taylor & Francis about publishing ethics. Finally, we remind readers to register for the 47th SSP Annual Meeting and the 2025 OASPA Conference.
To read:
Elsevier launches ScienceDirect AI via STM Publishing News | 5-minute read
Elsevier has announced the launch of ScienceDirect AI – a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that allows researchers to reference and explore insights from a catalogue of full-text peer-reviewed articles and book chapters from the ScienceDirect database. The tool will allow researchers to quickly and easily search and summarize full-text content, interrogate documents and explore follow-up questions through the Reading Assistant function. As Judy Verses (President of Academic and Government Markets at Elsevier) explains, “this new generative AI tool will seamlessly integrate into [researchers’] current ways of working, enabling them to dedicate more time to research and achieve results”.
The problem with peer review via The Conversation | 4-minute read
Peer review is widely considered the safe harbour of scholarly publishing, but what happens when that harbour is infiltrated by those with predatory intentions? In this article for The Conversation, Gail Wilson (Adjunct Associate Professor at Southern Cross University) uses her experience as a journal editor to discuss the challenges inherent to the modern peer review workflow and explore ways that the process can be strengthened to protect the integrity of research publications.
To engage with:
Detecting image manipulation in research articles via The Scholarly Kitchen | 7-minute read
Do you work for a publisher or institution that is interested in doing more to safeguard against image manipulation in scholarly publishing? Phill Jones (Co-founder, Digital and Technology at MoreBrains) and STM Solutions want to hear from you! Following publication of his report Feasibility of technical solutions for the detection of falsified images in research in November 2024, Phill and colleagues are interested in hearing from stakeholders willing to pilot a new image certification workflow. The workflow would draw from existing technology to ‘sign’ images, which could help verify their authenticity.
ORCID then and now via ORCID
On Tuesday 1 April members of the Open Researcher and Contributor iD (ORCID) senior team will host a Community Town Hall webinar to reflect on the progress made in 2024 and to preview plans for 2025. Attendees are invited to register for one of two sessions suitable for those in the Asia-Pacific region or the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Open Pharma at ALPSP University Press Redux via ALPSP
Open Pharma is proud to be a bronze sponsor of the 6th Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) University Press Redux. The 2-day conference, held in partnership with Oxford University Press, will focus on transitions in academic publishing, including exploration of the transformative potential of AI and evolving business models. We’ll be at the conference in Oxford, UK on 3 and 4 April – make sure to chat to us about how you can help shape the future of research communication.
Publishing ethics: the role of publishers, editors and authors via Taylor & Francis Group
How can publishers ensure integrity of the scholarly record? How can editors advocate ethical publishing? How can authors ensure their research publications adhere to best practices? In this webinar on Wednesday 9 April, publishing professionals from Taylor & Francis will explore these questions and more while introducing the topic of publication ethics. Registration for this event is free.
Reimaging the future of scholarly publishing: SSP Annual Meeting via SSP
Early bird registration for the 47th Annual Meeting of the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) is open until 18 April! Taking place in Baltimore, MD, USA from 28 to 30 May 2025, the meeting will bring together academics, librarians, funders, publishers and service providers to explore the theme Reimagining the future: scholarly publishing at the intersection of value and values. More information, including a provisional agenda and registration details, can be found on the SSP website.
OASPA Conference on OA scholarly publishing via OASPA
Registration for the 2025 Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) Conference is now open! Under the title Embracing the complexity – how do we get to 100% OA?, the 2025 meeting will explore whether achieving 100% open access (OA) should be the ultimate goal for scholarly communications, and if so, how the publishing community can work together to achieve it. Join OASPA from 22 to 24 September at the Irish College Leuven, Belgium – anyone who registers before 30 June 2025 will receive a full refund if they are no longer able to attend.
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