A Journal by Astronomers, for Astronomers: A&A, Open Access, and Community Values

A Journal by Astronomers, for Astronomers: A&A, Open Access, and Community Values Charlotte Van Rooyen, Marketing & Communications Director, EDP Sciences LISA 10 - 2025 By Astronomers, for Astronomers •Established in 1969 by Europe’s astronomical societies •Now an international consortium of 28 member countries •Run by scientists - governed and edited by practising astronomers •Published by EDP Sciences since 2000 (since 1969 for the supplement series) •A shared mission to: •Publish original research that advances Astronomy •Safeguard reproducibility, ethics and scientific integrity •Support and educate early-career astronomers in good writing and publishing practice A Changing Publishing Environment •Commercial consolidation has concentrated control among a few large publishers •Rising APCs are excluding authors without adequate funding •Rapid growth in article output - the “publish or perish” culture adds financial and editorial strain •Metrics and speed often overshadow quality and rigour •Costs and opacity burden institutions and researchers alike •AI tools are reshaping research and publishing, raising new ethical and practical questions •Community-owned journals like A&A offer a more balanced, transparent path The A&A Survey: Listening to the Astronomy Community •Nearly 3,000 responses from 69 countries •Astronomers spoke frankly about: •Choosing journals and what matters most •Peer review quality and fairness •Research impact and assessment •The role of AI in publishing •Open Access models and costs •Preliminary results presented at EAS, Cork in June 2025 Designed to understand how today’s publishing pressures affect researchers With thanks to João Alves for the survey analysis and his EAS2025 presentation, on which parts of this talk are based. What Matters Most When Choosing a Journal •Quality and reputation ranked highest •Cost was the key secondary concern •Peer review process equally important “The cost of publishing is huge – especially for researchers in developing countries. A paper costs around six to nine months’ salary of a PhD student.” “I consider the peer-review process essential to maintaining scientific integrity and transparency.” “We live in a time of predatory journals; we need serious work and good reputation like A&A has.” “The journal’s credibility and ethics matter more than metrics.” Peer Review •While speed and transparency are important, researchers are most concerned about the quality and expertise of reviewers, as well as potential biases in the process. “Please be very careful to avoid referee bias based on the author’s gender and their institutional affiliation (the university where they work).” “Speed of review is not always a primary concern, but the quality of the report and, as a consequence, the quality of the publication, is crucial.” “The value of a journal lies in rigorous review, not fastest turnaround.” Rethinking Research Impact 1/2 •Impact cannot be judged by citations and impact factor alone •Quality and influence on the field matter more than citation counts •Real-world and societal benefits are key indicators of impact “I mainly measure the impact of papers by how they changed thinking in the field or the originality of the idea — not by numerical measures.” “An impact occurs when the research results are used, when codes are further developed, or the results are discussed in proper context.” “Policy impacts, industry applications and effects on company turnover or jobs; educational impacts; interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary applications.” Rethinking Research Impact 2/2 •Metrics like impact factor are limited and vary by discipline •Context and purpose of the research must guide assessment •Combine qualitative judgement with quantitative data for balance. “Citation count is too field-dependent and can be a bubble sometimes.” “Some of my best papers are not cited. The impact depends on so many things.” “Citation matters a lot, but is not everything. Public engagement is also very important, especially if a work instigates curiosity in the general public.” AI in Publishing – Help or Hazard? A cautious yet potentially optimistic view of AI's role. Polarization of opinion on AI in editorial processes. A clear “no” to AI without limitation. •Most researchers are open to AI as a tool •Concerns: misuse, authorship, confidentiality •Support for clear editorial policies •A&A policy: assist, don’t replace human judgment “AI is a tool that will be used; declaration should be included in the paper.” “I feel like there is much yet unknown about how AI maintains research integrity as well as intellectual property rights.” “AI is an extremely valuable tool — but at the end of the day, the final decision or evaluation should be made by humans.” “AI can be a great tool if it is used correctly. Researchers should be trained in how to use (and not use) AI before they use it. Use of AI tools should be transparent.” “Hallucinating plagiarism machines have no place in scientific writing.” The impact since A&A became open access through S2O Libraries serve the research community: Partners in Sustaining Openness •Each renewal helps to keep A&A open for the entire astronomy community •Yo u r su pp o r t m e an s no A PC s , n o b arr ier s , n o exclusions •Ensures equity, researchers publish on merit, not on means •Sustains a model that serves science “Someone has to fund it, but it shouldn’t be the authors.” Challenges and the Road Ahead •Global instability. Sustaining library renewals each year to keep A&A fully open •Managing growth - submissions up 40% last year •Balancing rising publishing costs with fair pricing and equity •Overcoming misconceptions that equate OA with “author-pays” or predatory publishing •Ensuring transparency and communication around S2O and page-charge policies •Maintaining quality, reproducibility, and ethical standards amid rapid change •Adapting to new technologies such as AI while keeping human oversight central Community is our greatest asset •A&A shows that OA can reflect community values •Reputation and credibility are non-negotiable •Quality, fairness, and independence still possible •Thank you for supporting this model and if not yet, thank you in advance for helping to keep A&A open “Our greatest strength lies in our community” João Alves, EIC A&A Letters – EAS Cork June 2025 Questions