A single, open access journal may prevent the primary publishing problems in the life sciences

ABSTRACT

Herein, we discuss a novel way to knit current life sciences publishing structures together under the scope of a single life science journal that would countermand many of the issues faced in current publishing paradigms. Such issues include, but are not limited to, publication fees, subscription fees, impact factor, and publishing in more “glamorous” journals for career health. We envision a process flow involving (i) a single, overall, life sciences journal, (ii) divided into sections headed by learned societies, (iii) to whom all scientific papers are submitted for peer review, and (iv) all accepted scientific literature would be published open access and without author publication fees. With such a structure, journal fees, the merit system of science, and unethical aspects of open access would be reformed for the better. Importantly, such a journal could leverage existing online platforms; that is to say, it is conceptually feasible. We conclude that wholly inclusive publishing paradigms can be possible. A single, open access, online, life sciences journal could solve the myriad problems associated with current publishing paradigms and would be feasible to implement.

KEYWORDS:

• peer review
• Publication
• publication ethics
• science communication
• science funding
• science policy

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge delegates of the 68th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting whose discussion stimulated this contribution. We thank Prof. Thomas C. Erren for feedback on this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.