Publishing tips
Academics offer insight and advice on how to get published and many related topics including peer review, open access, the ‘push to publish’ and IP
Seven steps to dual publication
The dual publication model for research involves creating two versions of a research paper: one for fellow academics, and one for practitioners. Juggle the two with these seven steps
Six reasons why open institutional publishing matters
A new wave of institutional publishers is changing the way we think about academic publishing. Here’s why they’re worth watching
Scholarly publishers’ role in fostering collaboration in academia
With the infrastructure in place to exchange ideas and information, journals can enable scholars to build on their research and accelerate discovery and quality of…
THE podcast: a brighter future for academic publishing
Hear from two academics who are developing publishing solutions that encourage and underpin quality research practices and improve access to scholarly work
‘Academic writing equals chaos’
If you are stalled in your latest writing project, Glenn Fosbraey shares three tips for breaking through blocks, getting organised and finishing the final draft
Anatomy of an academic book proposal
Pitch your book to publishers with an irresistible proposal. Here are all the elements you’ll need
The pros and cons of peer reviewing
Weighing up whether to take on the role of peer reviewer? Arina Ziganshina draws on her own experience to outline the upsides and downsides
Eight steps to launch a student-led peer-review journal
To help PhD students gain the skills required for publication and improve research literacy, consider an in-house academic journal
‘Researchers have a responsibility to publish’
Without publication, advancements in knowledge will be stifled or even halted altogether, writes Walid Saad. Here he explains the many benefits to publishing for…
Trying to decide what, where and when to publish research?
It’s a strategic balancing act, writes Walid Saad. While academic researchers often know why it’s important to publish their work, the timing, location and medium can be…
A practical guide to writing a literature review
From organising key search terms to checking citations, this video offers simple, practical tips to crafting a literature review that will lay a sound foundation for your…
We’re living in a world of artificial intelligence – it’s academic publishing that needs to change
Scholars are using generative AI to assist them with writing articles, but should they be punished for it? The academic publishing community may need to change its mindset,…
Time to write is a necessity, not a nice-to-have
How a project for academics to carve out writing time has grown from ‘power hours’ to writing retreats, community, increased well-being and higher-quality papers
Set your PhD students up with opportunities to debate and share
Creating alternative publishing opportunities and space for peer-led conversation are a vital part of the PhD research student journey. Teal Triggs launched two initiatives to …
Making educational content open access can save lives
RCSI and its partners are making training resources for surgical professions available on an open access platform to address the huge number of preventable deaths each …
Embracing linguistic diversity and equity in global academic publishing
English operates as a gatekeeper in academia, determining who can access and contribute to the most prestigious platforms of knowledge production. We…
Building trust to support researchers’ mental health
Principal investigators should know what challenges to trust their research team may face at each stage of a project – from team building to post-project collaboration – so …
Can academic prenups help overcome barriers to interdisciplinary research?
A bottom-up approach could establish shared values, objectives, risk appetites and publication strategies as ways to mitigate challenges that hinder effective progress of…
Research shouldn’t cause trauma – let’s find a better way
How can we conduct research and share results without affecting the well-being of those around us? Eileen Harkess-Murphy advocates for a trauma-informed approach
Strategies for writing a PhD dissertation: write before you’re ‘ready’
Reading isn’t writing, and knowing about your topic isn’t writing. So, what should graduate students do to get started and make steady progress? Monique Dufour…
The making of: turning a research project into a documentary
To get your research findings into as many hands as possible, consider filming a documentary. James Layton, Paul Tucker and Bettina Talbot offer their advice
THE podcast: bringing an outsider’s eye to primary sources
What happens when a literary scholar turns her attention to local archives such as inventories and court records? English professor Alexandra Harris talks about writing…
What’s the key to collaborations between HE and industry? Analytical testing services
Analytical testing services can revolutionise collaboration between universities and industries. Imtias Amir Bahauddin explains how
Evidence synthesis: what every student (and researcher) should know
The ability to collect, summarise and analyse data is especially vital for students and researchers in medical and healthcare-related fields, writes Alessio Bellato. Here, …
Researchers need support to change the world – here’s how to provide it
To generate world-changing research, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Research and Innovation Office took on the role of fostering collaboration and…
THE podcast: what is open access?
Experts demystify what open access and open research are, tips for best practice, and where the movement and research culture are heading
Publication-based doctorate: is it for me?
Potential research higher degree candidates from academia or industry will need to decide between a doctorate by thesis or by publication. Here are key questions to …
Open research: what is it, really?
Open research principles aim to foster openness, transparency, replicability and accountability, writes Steven Vidovic. Here, he offers a fresh perspective along with…
Democratising research through open access journals
The rise of open access publishing has democratised knowledge dissemination, allowing researchers to share their findings with a global audience. Here, Corinne…
Opening doors to knowledge: making data open access
Making data open access has become a cornerstone of transparent and collaborative research practices. Here, Jon Petters provides a brief guide on how to do it, emphasising…
Unwrapping discovery: the importance of institutional repositories
Self-archiving in university repositories is an alternative academic publishing route to gold open access that can boost citations and diversify users accessing scholarly…
As librarians, we should embrace open research
Open access represents a new opportunity, and librarians are ideally placed to implement it. Nazarbayev University’s library team offers their advice
Pledges and charters in medical schools: catalysts for change or performative promises?
Pledges demonstrating support in addressing issues such as racism and misogyny will often garner interest and may even attract pockets of funding. But they also risk…
Sharing qualitative research through open access
Traditional open access repositories are designed for sharing quantitative data. But what about qualitative data – non-numeric information and concepts such as case …
Three ways libraries are championing the open access movement
Scholars and researchers should take advantage of libraries’ support of and expertise around open access publishing. Asking a librarian for help could protect your…
What underpins effective patient and public involvement in health and social care research?
Is it rules or values? The two key ways to approach the art of PPI in healthcare research should come together in process, procedures and culture, writes Gary Hickey
Researchers should harness the explorer’s spirit to find their career path
Lee Chien Ching shares advice to her younger self and other early career academics on forging your own path through the sometimes forbidding jungle of academia
The double-edged sword of open access publishing
Inclusivity is seen as a benefit of open access publishing, but is this an illusion? Here, William E. Donald asks questions about who pays and what counts, and offers…
Science communication tips for university marketing teams
When research reaches a broader audience, it improves the society we live in and inspires the next generation of scientists. Iris Lai offers her advice on engaging the …
Show your research impact: a guide for academics and researchers
In academia, effectively demonstrating and communicating the real-world impact of research is increasingly vital for scholars, driven by demands from…
Five things to know before you launch a research podcast
Starting a podcast can open up your research to a new audience. David Allan and Andrew Murray show how
Five ways to beat the procrastination monster
Writing and procrastination often go together like pen and paper, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, Glenn Fosbraey offers strategies to stop putting off putting …
Get the word out: four ways to communicate with non-academic audiences
Sharing scientific research with the wider public can be instrumental in breaking down the barriers to academic work. Ashleigh Johnstone offers advice
Approach with caution: why education faculty should engage public intellectualism
The public debate on intellectualism is failing to consider education experts. Ali and Davin Carr-Chellman find the ways to reclaim the narrative
HARKing forward: an argument for a polarising research practice
Hypothesising (or proposing) after results are known is seen as going against scientific principles. Here, however, Yehuda Barach argues for its use in the name of …
What is your academic writing temperament?
Many early career researchers struggle to write enough. The key is to move away from an abstract notion of productivity and towards a productive writing process, explains…
Give your academic paper its best chance of being accepted
Peer review is a key step in the journey to publication in that prestigious journal, but not every paper gets to this stage. Here are key reasons for desk rejection and how to avoid…
Life after publication: promote your work for maximum impact
Seeing your work in print is by no means the end of the story. Chris Tancock offers advice on how you can make your published work stand out and benefit from the broadest…
Universities and academics need to make space for ‘useless’ research
The academic race for short-term results and practical applications must be balanced with research that can, in due time, become incredibly useful, writes James Derounian
Is open access tarnished?
As open access terms have split into colour-coded brands, not all allow totally unrestricted access and reuse. Among these, “bronze OA” stands out as a potentially…
