Open Access. Imprimatur in the age of academic deflation

Few academic researchers and scholars deny the intellectual, scientific, economic and social benefits of open access to research findings. Yet, in the wake of the Finch report and the publication of the open access policies of most British funding bodies, open access has emerged as a hotly contested issue. Notwithstanding the vehemence of long-committed activists, […]

Gold Open Access: Why you should be worried about it

This is a very busy time of the year for academics and few of us have had the chance to investigate the issues raised by Gold Open Access and its imposition upon the UK research base. In response to a colleague’s suggestion, I have listed some of the reasons why the profession should be very […]

A response to the Finch Report on Open Access

The report of the Working Group on Expanding Access to Published Research Findings, chaired by Dame Janet Finch CBE was published in June 2012. Entitled Accessibility, sustainability, excellence: how to expand access to research publications, it is commonly referred to as the “Finch Report”. According to its terms of reference, the Working Group was asked […]