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A series of focus articles that examine technology developments, and what they mean for access to vital scholarly research, has been published online by Cambridge Journals.

A generation is growing up in a new information landscape with no experience of life without the world wide web. This is changing the way that we all access information, including scholarly research that is vital for benefiting and furthering the knowledge of mankind.

The most recent and radical change in scholarly publishing is what is known as the Open Access approach - making scholarly information available through the internet to everybody, free of charge.

Developments in technology mean that publishers can now offer the information they publish in a variety of formats. Digitised text material and images, back-files of journals and e-books all offer new opportunities for study and research, but they come at a cost.

The digital transition has already had a major impact on scholarly publishing as new instruments and tools are available. These tools promise to allow even more improvements that will mean not only wider and faster access to information, but also less cost.

A series of focus articles analysing the current situation from their own perspective, and looking at possible improvements for the future has been published in the journal European Review. European Review is published by Cambridge Journals on behalf of the Academia Europaea, an association of scientists and scholars who collectively aim to promote learning, education and research.

Representatives of four main players in the scholarly world have been invited to present their views: Michael Mabe (publishers), Dieter Imboden (research funding organisations), Robert Aymar (community of researchers) and Paul Ayris (libraries). They give successful examples of Open Access, but also consider the problems and barriers as well.

Theo D’haen, Editor-in-Chief of European Review says: “These articles are vital for anyone with an interest in open access and what it means for the future of scholarly publishing.

“The authors come from a range of disciplines and so are able to present the arguments from a range of viewpoints. The philosophy of open access is discussed along with the practicalities of how it can work in a business environment.”

To view these articles free of charge, go to: journals.cambridge.org/erw/17:01

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

European Review is published by Cambridge Journals on behalf of the Academia Europaea. The articles that can be accessed free of charge about open access are:

• Scholarly Publishing by Michael A. Mabe
• Scientific Publishing: the Dilemma of Research Funding Organisations by Dieter M. Imboden
• Scholarly Communication in High-Energy Physics: Past, Present and Future Innovations by Robert Aymar
• New Wine in Old Bottles: Current Developments in Digital Delivery and Dissemination by Paul Ayris

About Academia Europaea

Academia Europaea is a European, non-governmental association. Its members are scientists and scholars who collectively aim to promote learning, education and research. They are leading experts from the fields of physical sciences and technology, biological sciences and medicine, mathematics, the letters and humanities, social and cognitive sciences, economics and the law. It was founded in 1988, and has over 2,000 members.

For further information, go to: www.acadeuro.com

About Cambridge Journals

Cambridge Journals is part of Cambridge University Press and currently publishes over 230 peer-reviewed academic journals for the global market. Containing the latest research from a broad sweep of subject areas, Cambridge journals are accessible worldwide in print and online.

As well as journals owned by the Press itself, Cambridge Journals also publish on behalf of over 100 learned and professional societies. Delivery of journal content via the internet has led to new markets opening up across the world. These include libraries operating together as consortia, and institutions in the developing world able to access journals for the first time. Cambridge is active in all these markets and works with many organisations to bring journals to research institutions across the globe.

For further information, go to: www.journals.cambridge.org

About Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s leading research institutions. It is the oldest publisher and printer in the world, having been operating continuously since 1584.

Throughout its history, the Press has maintained a reputation for innovation and enterprise, through its use of printing technologies, through publishing the latest research, and through supporting the latest methodologies for teaching and learning. Its purpose is to advance learning, knowledge and research worldwide. It publishes over 230 journals and over 1,500 books every year for distribution in nearly every country in the world.