Opening the books on open access

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<h1>Opening the books on open access</h1>
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<p><P>This month saw the debut of a new, high-profile player on the science-publishing scene — a ‘free’ electronic journal, known as <em>PLoS Biology</em>, in which contributors cover the costs.</P><br />
<P>In this article, David Malakoff reports that the new journal — which has sparked considerable anxiety in the profit-making world of science publishing — appears to be off to a solid start. Its inaugural issue included a headline-grabbing research paper on a monkey whose brain had been wired to move a robotic arm, prompting curious readers to create gridlock on the PLoS website last week.</P><br />
<P>Many are sceptical of the journal’s prospects for long-term success, however. Even Harold Varmus, co-founder and chair of the board of the Public Library of Science, which runs the journal, admits they could have a tough time persuading scientists to publish their work in the journal. “We’re unknown, online and contentious — plus we’re asking them to pay,” he says.</P><br />
<P><a href="/sci.cfm?redir=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/302/5645/550?ijkey=5XtQEmMIkromY&keytype=ref&siteid=sci " target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/tracking/external/'+this.href);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Link to full article in <em>Science</em></A></P><br />
<P>Reference: <em>Science</em> 302, 550 (2003)</P></p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/features/opening-the-books-on-open-access/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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This month saw the debut of a new, high-profile player on the science-publishing scene — a ‘free’ electronic journal, known as PLoS Biology, in which contributors cover the costs.

In this article, David Malakoff reports that the new journal — which has sparked considerable anxiety in the profit-making world of science publishing — appears to be off to a solid start. Its inaugural issue included a headline-grabbing research paper on a monkey whose brain had been wired to move a robotic arm, prompting curious readers to create gridlock on the PLoS website last week.

Many are sceptical of the journal’s prospects for long-term success, however. Even Harold Varmus, co-founder and chair of the board of the Public Library of Science, which runs the journal, admits they could have a tough time persuading scientists to publish their work in the journal. “We’re unknown, online and contentious — plus we’re asking them to pay,” he says.

Link to full article in Science

Reference: Science 302, 550 (2003)