Published 24 October 2007

How open access?

From Peter White, Oceania Publications

Open-access publishing as preached by Jim Giles may be great for readers (22 September, p 22). It would make my life easier. But as editor of a peer-reviewed, free-standing, archaeological journal, I know that almost none of the students and researchers I publish could afford to pay the $1000 needed.

For one thing, the Australian Research Council, our major funding body, forbids this use of its money. Open-access publishing will clearly discriminate against most humanities and social-science researchers everywhere, and against all researchers in poorer countries, just as much as the present practices do although in different ways.

Different research funders have different takes on this. Several in the UK, including the Wellcome Trust, have a separate funding pot to pay for open-access publishing. If your funder does not, the model is indeed a problem. I think more will make the option available in the future. Several open access publishers waive fees for developing world scientists.

Sydney, Australia

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