Are we cut off?
William Burns
Sunday, 25 May 2008 23:09 UTC
Brisbane is a long way from the scientific hubs of North America, Europe and Asia – and even Sydney and Melbourne aren’t exactly on our doorstep.
Does this mean we’re cut off from the mainstream? Is it harder for Brisbane-based scientists to get into Nature or other top journals?
Do we even try to get into them, or do we resign ourselves to something less, thinking no matter how hard we try, we’re just not hip enough?
In the age of the RQF (yes, I suspect it will come back from the dead), don’t we have to strive for better things?
PS:
For the next few months I’m going to track the number of Brisbane-based groups (at least one author from Brisbane) who get into Nature or Science. Perhaps forum members could do the same for the top journal in their specialty.
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Elaine, do you mean electronic journals?
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Yes, electronic media are my only real access to published work. I work for a biotech start-up company, I can get public access to hard-copy/library facilities at nearby universities – but my area of interest is somewhat specialised for them – or take a day and go to Brisbane but I have minimal resources in house and with a small staff time out of the lab is at a premium.
Incidentally, I think some of the charges for on-line pubs are outrageous, particularly for older work, but that’s another issue. -
Elaine – I also rarely read the print copy of a journal, but do put time aside each week to browse my e-tocs, and the articles that interest me. I am in a fortunate position of having academic licenses to access most of the journals that are relevant to me. It does bring up the importance of online accessibility to those of us who have long-sea mail delays on print journals to their libraries.
I am a huge fan of open access publishing and hope this becomes more widely adopted by the big journals.William – I’m helping organise Combio2009 in NZ – and will suggest that we approach some editors. Any suggestions?
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Christine, apologies for such a delay in replying, I’ve been busy with work.
Now, suggestions for Combio2009, I’ll have a think.
We had Virginia Barbour, Chief Editor, PLOS Medicine in to speak last Friday. I’ll post something up here about what she said when I have a moment.
She was on a tour of Australia, I’m not sure how often she makes it down here usually.
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