A New Model for Scientific Communication Based on Open Access and CrowdsourcingSina Shahandeh

Department of Materials Science, The University of British Columbia

Open AccessRepository of Knowledge

Institution 1

Institution 2

Closed Access Publishers

Researcher1

Open AccessRepository of Knowledge

Researcher2

Researcher3 Researcher

4

Article

Author

Review

Comments

Field 2

Field 1

An Idea

Comment

Comment

Suggestion

The Article

Review

Comment

Problem with Publishers andPeer Review System

● Transfer of copyright and limiting access● Prone to errors, bias and suppression● Lack of accountability● Cautious of breakthroughs● Slowing down innovation

Open Access Journals

● Creates a free platform for dissemination of knowledge

Interdisciplinary Links and Collaboration

Crowdsourcing and Open Peer Review

● Reviews and comments from readers enable interaction from broader audience

Field 1 Field 2 Field 3

Publication 1

Publication 2

Publication 3

● Papers are read and ranked by wider audience and are reviewed based on multiple criteria e.g. originality, analysis, methodology, data, reproducibility and effectiveness.● Users ranking credibility is weighted by their prominence and contribution to the community.

Publication 4

Collaborative Creativity

● An Idea is formulated + preliminary works are reviled ● Others review and comment on the idea● A team of collaborators is created● Team members add data, information and analysis● The team collaborates on writing the paper ✔

?!

Any improvement since 17th century?

Barriers for Adoption

● The system has to be known and used by a critical mass● Institution reward system, metrics such as impact factor● Lack of a culture of sharing and openness