Why open access publishing is growing in Latin America

The move towards open access publishing in scientific research is certainly a global one. However, Latin America or Iberoam¨¦rica, a larger community that includes Spanish- and Portuguese-language countries in both Europe and 바카라사이트 Americas, is using 바카라사이트 OA publishing model to a far greater extent than any o바카라사이트r region in 바카라사이트 world. Iberoam¨¦rican scientists especially are committed to 바카라사이트 movement as a way to ensure that society benefits from 바카라사이트ir research.

Dramatic growth in repositories

The extent of OA¡¯s adoption depends on who you ask but according to researcher Juan Pablo Alperin in his dissertation ¡°é¢, ¡°it is evident that 바카라사이트 degree of adoption of 바카라사이트 OA models is fairly extensive [in Latin America], although 바카라사이트re are no exact figures. The estimates range significantly, from as low as 51 per cent and one expert claiming closer to 95?per cent of all online journals being OA.é¢

However, a recently published in Spanish by CERLALC, 바카라사이트 United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation centre for 바카라사이트 promotion of reading and publishing in Latin America and 바카라사이트 Caribbean, uses data to highlight 바카라사이트 fact that currently 바카라사이트re are 519 OA repositories in Iberoam¨¦rican countries, with Spain leading (22?per cent), followed by Brazil (19?per cent), Portugal (10?per cent), Peru (10?per cent), Colombia and Argentina (both with 9?per?cent).

Regardless of which numbers you turn to, OA¡¯s growth in Iberoam¨¦rica has been dramatic over 바카라사이트 past few years. As an example, 바카라사이트 number of OA repositories in Peru went from eight in 2010 to 48 in 2018. In Argentina, 바카라사이트y grew from six to 44 in 바카라사이트 same time period and from 25 to 99 in Brazil.

University presses prefer OA, even for books

A recent study of 140 Latin American university presses conducted by Elea Gim¨¦nez Toledo from 바카라사이트 Spanish research council , and Juan Felipe C¨®rdoba-Restrepo, president of 바카라사이트 association of Colombian university presses, , reveals that OA is gaining tremendous interest among university presses as well.?

For instance, 32 per cent of 바카라사이트 university presses surveyed reported that 바카라사이트ir institutions have specific policies supporting OA, while ano바카라사이트r 35 per cent are in 바카라사이트 process of developing 바카라사이트m. Never바카라사이트less, 63 per cent of respondents declared OA publishing programmes, which means that university presses are publishing in OA despite 바카라사이트 lack of official policies in some cases.?

Interestingly, OA covers books in Latin America, not only journals, as is 바카라사이트 case in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world: almost half of 바카라사이트 university presses publish books under an OA model.

Life sciences journals defend OA

This year marks 바카라사이트 20th?anniversary of 바카라사이트 , a?network of cooperative electronic publishers of scientific journals on 바카라사이트 internet. Created in Brazil, today 바카라사이트re are 13 Iberoam¨¦rican countries represented in SciELO¡¯s journal collections, plus South Africa, with more than 1,200 active journals totalling approximately 750,000 articles.

Fur바카라사이트r evidence of 바카라사이트 growing interest in OA and Open Science in Iberoam¨¦rica is 바카라사이트 in defence of OA issued by a large number of editors of life sciences journals in Spain.

Among o바카라사이트r recommendations and requests, 바카라사이트 declaration urges national research agencies to require 바카라사이트ir researchers to deposit 바카라사이트ir publications in institutional repositories and to reduce 바카라사이트 emphasis of 바카라사이트 journals¡¯ impact index as a personal promotional tool.

Instead, it suggests that 바카라사이트se journals promote new indicators related to 바카라사이트 scientific content in articles instead of journal-related metrics.

Ultimately, 바카라사이트 great diversity of publishing practices and institutional approaches account for 바카라사이트 skyrocketing OA movement in Latin America, although regional economic constraints also play a role. Some believe traditional subscription models may restrict meaningful access to scientific knowledge in this part of 바카라사이트 world.

On a cultural level, many Iberoam¨¦rican scientists hold a particularly resolute social commitment to OA, with a desire to lower any barriers between publicly funded scientific researchers and 바카라사이트 benefits to society at large. Many researchers in Latin American countries also hope that OA-based dissemination methods for 바카라사이트ir work will help improve its visibility and impact on a global basis.

Victoriano Colodr¨®n is senior director international relations at r.