Learning in a digital age/LiDA103/Why open matters/Scientific publishing in a digital world
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Scientific research and dissemination of knowledge are key functions of the university. Traditionally, scientific knowledge is distributed through a process of peer-reviewed journals. Profit margins of commercial publishers of scientific journals are in excess of 30% compared with the profit margin of 12 - 15% for commercial magazines (Buranyi 2017[1]). From 1978 to 2014, the cost of academic textbooks has risen more than 800% which is more than triple the cost of inflation for the same period (Moules 2016[2]). In this section, we will reflect on and discuss the potential of open initiatives to widen affordable access to knowledge in a digital age.
References
- ↑ Buranyi, S. (2017, June 27). Is the staggeringly profitable business of scientific publishing bad for science? The Guardian.
- ↑ Moules, J. (2016, May 15). Rising price of textbooks reaches a tipping point