RSC press release: Adopting the wrong Open Access model would destroy scientific communications, RSC chief tells Cambridge MP

“Throwing away one of Britain's few GDP-positive industries by adopting an unsustainable Open Access model would ‘destroy the fabric of scientific communications’, Dr Robert Parker warned Cambridge MP Julian Huppert today. The RSC Chief Executive said scientific publishers are approaching a critical juncture in relation to Open Access publishing, as both the government and the Research Councils UK (RCUK) currently review the model with a number of options being considered. Dr Parker said: ‘The vast majority of RSC published research now comes from the international arena and our ability to effectively disseminate scientific knowledge through our publishing activities, which is a primary objective set out in our Royal Charter, must not be undermined by adopting an ill-thought out Open Access model. In addition, UK-based scientific publishers contribute an enormous amount to the UK economy and unlike some other industries, publishing has never had or needed specific support or subsidy or tax breaks from government so to damage that in any way now would be an act of madness.’ The RSC has responded to the RCUK's Proposed Policy on Access to Research Outputs to help inform RCUK on enhancing scientific communications in a sustainable manner and looks forward to receiving its findings. Dr Parker added: ‘There are two systems of 'Open Access' being discussed at the moment: Green Open Access, where a version of a paper is made available via a subject or institutional repository after an embargo period of between six and 24 months; and Gold Open Access, where funding is made available to support authors so their final article is made immediately available to all. The RSC supports sustainable Open Access and we believe the Gold method is a more sustainable model whereas the Green method is expensive to maintain, unsustainable and threatens to destabilise successful and effective scientific communications. Adopting the wrong model will destroy the fabric of scientific communications as we know it.’ Under the RSC's 'Open Science' model, authors are currently offered the option of paying a fee in exchange for making their peer reviewed research paper openly available to all via the renowned RSC web platform...”