ANALYSIS AND NEWS
HELPING SCIENTISTS NAVIGATE A COMPLEX RESEARCH LANDSCAPE
Publishers need to be closely associated with academia
to increase the impact of research, says Elsevier’s David Neal
S
cience is changing dramatically. Technology is allowing deep examinations of biological, chemical and physical phenomena that are unprecedented in scale and precision. Funders are considering the social and economic impact of research and there is more emphasis on applied science. There is also tremendous pressure for researchers to communicate how their work contributes to the betterment of society in order to encourage continued funding. This shift in how science gets done is also impacting the scholarly publishing industry, whose members are reinventing their businesses to become providers of informatic solutions for researchers, clinical practitioners and academic institutions. We can assist scientists in carrying out their research at the outset, not just when they are looking to publish at the end. Publishers provide the vehicles for disseminating innovative research findings and have a role in ensuring that results are practically implemented and communicated effectively to those making policy decisions.
Turning information into knowledge by collaborating across disciplines
The sheer scale of the increase in scientific output is astonishing. According to Scopus data, 60 per cent more scientific research articles were published in 2014 compared to 2004. This tremendous growth in the volume of research data – some of which approaches ‘big data’ in size and complexity – requires it to be managed and vetted. Publishers play an essential role in ensuring that researchers can access and use data, and that findings are based on quality, reproducible research that is executed with integrity, and communicated clearly. All of this can help funders and institutions better
understand the overall value of research output and identify more focused ways to allocate funding.
Equally important is the multi- and trans- disciplinary nature of science today. Finding cutting-edge scientific results that are truly relevant to a researcher’s own discipline can be problematic and it is becoming more difficult to synthesise discoveries into higher level overarching principles.
Science has also become more ‘networked’ – articles by different authors are linked to banks of data sets, reference books, video, presentations and audio recordings. Researchers from across disciplines can debate findings in online forums, opening up new avenues for inquiry and discovery. Still, finding the right collaborators is not easy, even within an institution. Given their vantage point and platform, publishers are well positioned to help to foster collaboration through their networks of authors, editorial boards and readers, and to find new ways to help researchers and editors to identify leading experts in the field. While personal contact remains
Maximising the impact of research in society
Ultimately whether basic or applied, scientific research should be used for the benefit of society. Through our existing and future collaborations, we aim to maximise the understanding and communication of research impact more quickly and to facilitate the creation of commercial applications from research, helping to improve the return on investment and to attract new investment from both private and public sources. By pushing the boundaries of how we communicate science – through different media, to wider audiences – publishers are invaluable partners to researchers
‘Scientific research should be applied to the benefit of society’
critically important, such tools can help people narrow down the field of potential experts and collaborators. Elsevier’s new social profile sites aim to link potential collaborators and may be used by researchers to solicit confidential feedback on draft papers and data before submission. Helping to bring together the right people will allow us to continue to push the boundaries of knowledge. Mendeley – a reference manager and collaborative sharing platform social network – was developed with the idea of creating next- generation workflows, products and data services so researchers can perform their work faster, better and with greater flexibility.
6 Research Information DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016
in making science understandable and relevant to policymakers and to the general public. To achieve these goals, publishers need to be closely associated with academia. In September, Elsevier contributed £100,000 to Cancer Research UK’s ‘Create the Change’ campaign to establish the new Francis Crick Institute for biomedical research, which will emphasise multidisciplinary research, training young researchers and engaging the public. When it opens in 2016, the Institute will be a new centre of global research excellence, focused around a multidisciplinary approach to tackling challenging scientific questions underpinning health and disease. Our recent donation confirms our commitment to the principles of collaboration and engagement that will drive future science; it marks the beginning of an exciting journey wherein we will be working more closely with universities and researchers.
Publishing is no longer just about disseminating research findings. It’s about ensuring their use in practical implementation of new research, policymaking and engaging the public, and laying the groundwork for game-changing science.
David E Neal is senior vice president for Global Research (Academic) at Elsevier Research Applications and Platforms
@researchinfo
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