1. Robustness and reliability: Ensuring that AI systems perform as intended under various conditions and do not exhibit unexpected or harmful behavior.
2. Ethical considerations: Addressing issues related to fairness, accountability, transparency, and privacy in AI systems to prevent harm or discrimination against individuals or groups.
3. Value alignment: Aligning the goals and values of AI systems with those of human users and society at large to prevent conflicts or unintended consequences.
4. Risk mitigation: Developing strategies and mechanisms to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks associated with the development and deployment of AI technologies, such as unintended side effects, misuse, or unintended consequences.
5. Long-term impacts: Anticipating and planning for the long-term societal, economic, and existential impacts of AI technologies, including issues related to employment, inequality, and the potential for AI to surpass human capabilities.

Overall, the goal of AI safety is to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed in a way that maximizes their benefits while minimizing their risks and potential for harm to individuals, society, and the broader environment.

AI safety research is still an emerging field, and new questions and concerns about safety can arise almost daily. However, with increasing use of AI in different aspects of academia, it’s important for stakeholders to understand key issues in AI safety.

Data Poisoning

Data poisoning is a type of cyber attack or manipulation aimed at corrupting the training data used to develop or fine-tune machine learning models. In data poisoning attacks, adversaries strategically inject malicious or misleading data into the training dataset with the goal of undermining the performance or integrity of the machine learning model.

Data poisoning attacks can take various forms, including

1. Label Flipping: Adversaries manipulate the labels or annotations associated with data points to mislead the model during training. For example, they may change the label of a cat image to “dog” to confuse the model.
2. Feature Tampering: Attackers modify certain features or attributes of the data to introduce biases or distortions that can mislead the model’s learning process. This can involve altering pixel values in images or modifying text to include misleading information.
3. Data Injection: Adversaries inject entirely fabricated or malicious data points into the training dataset to skew the model’s decision boundaries or induce specific behaviors. These injected data points can be carefully crafted to exploit vulnerabilities in the model’s learning algorithms.
4. Data Manipulation: Attackers may manipulate the distribution of the training data by selectively adding or removing samples to bias the model’s predictions in favor of certain outcomes or classes.

Deepfakes

Deepfakes are synthetic media, typically videos, that are created using deep learning techniques, particularly generative adversarial networks (GANs) and deep neural networks (DNNs). These technologies allow for the manipulation of visual and audio content to produce highly realistic forgeries that are often difficult to distinguish from genuine footage.

Deepfakes have garnered significant attention due to their potential for misuse, including

1. Misinformation and Fake News: Deepfakes can be used to create convincing but entirely fabricated videos of public figures, politicians, or celebrities saying or doing things they never actually did. This poses a significant risk for spreading misinformation and undermining trust in media and public figures.
2. Privacy Concerns: Deepfake technology can be used to create non-consensual pornography or to fabricate compromising videos of individuals without their consent, leading to privacy violations and potential harm to victims.
3. Fraud and Social Engineering: Deepfakes could be employed for fraudulent purposes, such as impersonating individuals in video calls or creating fake audio messages to deceive people into believing they are communicating with someone they trust.

Transparency and Bias

Many AI systems, particularly those based on complex deep learning models, operate as “black boxes,” making it difficult to understand how they arrive at their decisions. Ensuring transparency and explainability in AI is essential for building trust, enabling accountability, and facilitating human oversight in critical applications where the consequences of errors or failures can be significant.

Moreover, bias in AI systems can lead to unfair or discriminatory outcomes, particularly when these systems are used in high-stakes decision-making processes such as hiring, lending, and criminal justice. Addressing bias and promoting fairness in AI requires careful consideration of the data used to train models, as well as the design and evaluation of algorithms to mitigate biased outcomes.

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The recent Barcelona Declaration, on the other hand, advocates for such research information to be open, that is, freely available to all users and without restrictions on how such data can be used.

Below, we’ve compiled some of the main questions universities, publishers, and researchers have around the Barcelona Declaration.

What is the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information?

The Barcelona Declaration is a call for the scientific community to make the following 4 commitments:

1. To make openness the default for the research information they use and produce
2. To use services and systems that support and enable open research information
3. To support the sustainability of infrastructures for open research information
4. support collective action to accelerate the transition to openness of research information

Who prepared it?

Over 25 research information experts, from organizations involved in conducting, funding, and evaluating research, as well as those providing research information infrastructures, collaborated to prepare the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information. They convened in Barcelona in November 2023 for a workshop hosted by the SIRIS Foundation.

When was it released?

April 16, 2024.

Who supports it?

The Barcelona Declaration already has an impressive list of signatories, ranging from prominent funders like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to organizations like the UK Reproducibility Network and Science Europe. cOAlitionS, Crossref, DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals), and Europe PMC are also in support of this declaration.

How can I learn more about it?

A webinar in English will be held on April 23 1.00-2.30pm CEST, to officially launch the Barcelona Declaration in English. Attendees can learn about the text of the Barcelona Declaration and its aims. They can also interact with members of signatory organizations and find out the next steps for community coordination. 

Organizations that would like to know more about the Declaration or that would like to sign the Declaration can email contact@barcelona-declaration.org.

The post A Step Towards Open Research Information: FAQs about the Barcelona Declaration appeared first on CACTUS.

Online Threats in Academia & Scientific Publishing

The academic and scientific communities are not immune to the cyber risks that afflict the entire digital world. Phishing attacks, in which people are duped into supplying sensitive information, are growing more sophisticated, frequently targeting researchers with the promise of publishing chances or access to special databases. Data breaches represent another important concern, including cases where unauthorised access to research data has resulted in intellectual property theft or scientific findings manipulation, weakening the credibility of research outputs.

Furthermore, the academic community must address the dissemination of misinformation and academic dishonesty. The emergence of predatory publications, which profit from the open-access paradigm while providing no valid peer review, reduces the quality of scientific debate. Furthermore, the issue of cyber espionage, in which state-sponsored or competing interests seek early access to cutting-edge research, should not be underestimated, emphasising the importance of strong cybersecurity measures in preserving intellectual developments.

The Role of Research Societies in Ensuring Online Safety

Research societies are ideally positioned to advocate for internet safety in the academic and scientific communities. By cultivating an educational and awareness environment, these societies may provide their members with the knowledge and skills they need to efficiently manage online hazards. This includes not only providing information about common cyber risks, but also exchanging best practices for digital hygiene and data security.

Developing and implementing comprehensive internet safety policies is another crucial area in which research societies can have a significant impact. These regulations should address the unique issues and threats that academia faces, while also offering a framework for members to engage in responsible online activity. Furthermore, the implementation of support systems, such as reporting procedures for security issues, guarantees that members have options in the case of an online security breach.

Collaboration with cybersecurity specialists provides another opportunity for research societies to improve their digital safety protocols. By collaborating with IT security businesses or specialists, societies can stay up to date on the newest cybersecurity threats and defences, ensuring that their members are protected from developing online risks.

Best Practices for Webinars & Online Events

The shift to online events and webinars has expanded opportunities for academic collaboration and learning. However, it has introduced new vulnerabilities. Secure platforms are the backbone of safe online events, and research societies are increasingly using systems known for their strong security features to hold webinars and conferences. These platforms provide end-to-end encryption, secure authentication techniques, and limited access to ensure that only registered users can participate.

Implementing secure registration and authentication methods is critical for preventing unauthorised access and protecting participant information. Data protection measures, such as anonymizing participant information and providing secure communication routes, are critical for preserving confidentiality and integrity during these events.

Practical examples from different research societies

In the realm of academic and scientific discourse, research societies are taking decisive steps to fortify internet safety through practical, innovative examples. The Royal Society, recognizing the need for secure digital communication, upgraded its webinar platform to incorporate advanced encryption protocols. This strategic move ensures that online lectures and discussions are conducted on a platform safeguarding participants against data breaches and unauthorized access.

Similarly, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has initiated cybersecurity workshops for its members. These sessions, led by cybersecurity experts, aim to educate participants on navigating common online threats and securing sensitive information, thereby enhancing their digital resilience.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) adopted a robust two-factor authentication (2FA) system for its annual conference access. This security layer requires attendees to verify their identity through a secondary method, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access and ensuring that only verified participants can engage in the conference’s online sessions.

Nature Research, a pioneer in scientific publishing, introduced a secure online portal for its peer review process. Designed with top-tier security measures, this portal safeguards the confidentiality of manuscripts and the anonymity of reviewers, with stringent access controls and data encryption ensuring the integrity of the peer review process.

These examples from the Royal Society, IEEE, ACS, and Nature Research exemplify the commitment of research societies to implementing cutting-edge security measures. By prioritizing internet safety, these organizations not only protect their members and participants but also uphold the sanctity of scientific research and collaboration in the digital age.

As the digital landscape changes, so do the difficulties of internet safety in academia and scientific publishing. Research societies are at the frontline of this battle, with the obligation of protecting their members from online risks while also creating a culture of responsible and secure online activity. Research societies can safeguard the integrity of scientific research and their members’ personal safety in the digital era by implementing best practices for digital safety, formulating thorough policies, and cultivating an environment of awareness and education. The journey to perfect online safety is ongoing, requiring vigilance, adaptability, and a collaborative effort from the entire academic community.

The post <strong>Why Research Societies Should Care About Internet Safety</strong> appeared first on CACTUS.

English is the predominant language for scholarly journals, including those in open access (OA) repositories. Scientists and journals seeking more citations are pushed to publish in English instead of local languages. As a result, publications in various local languages, especially in the Global South, have diminished, even though an ever-increasing proportion of researchers belongs to non–English-speaking backgrounds. Considering the pervasive dominance of English in academic publishing, the importance of embracing linguistic diversity in this space needs to be recognized.

See also: How Publishers and Journals Can Encourage OA Submissions from Underserved Groups

Why do academia and scholarly publishing need linguistic diversity?

Electronic communication and mobilization of researchers globally are facilitating increased international scientific collaboration. This scenario should encourage rather than erode linguistic diversity. A sort of “cross-pollination” is needed to change the current homogeneity and standardization of practices in disseminating scientific knowledge, lent by the dominance of articles in English, mostly from the Global North.

UNESCO’s Recommendation concerning the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace seeks to “promote human interaction on the Internet by encouraging the creation and processing of, and access to, educational, cultural and scientific content in digital form, so as to ensure that all cultures can express themselves and have access to cyberspace in all languages, including indigenous ones.”

A lack of language diversity can lead to an impoverishment of research on lesser-known cultures and traditional knowledge, and even a loss of local languages. Researchers and their valuable work in this space might remain undiscovered because of the lack of visibility of findings disseminated in languages besides English. Open science can help preserve local, traditional knowledge, which is typically available in local or Indigenous languages.

It is worth mentioning another crucial need for communicating research in different languages: academic communication in the native language of a target audience leads to greater participation and motivation and stronger connections to concepts in the local culture.

Thus, multilingualism is an important means to support OA and offer diverse methods to produce, communicate, and utilize knowledge.

See also: Breaking Down Barriers: How and Why Research Societies and Publishers Are Embracing Cultural Diversity

How is OA supporting linguistic diversity in scholarly publishing?

There are currently 20,341 journals indexed in the directory of OA journals (DOAJ; the largest database of fully OA journals), representing 135 countries and covering 80 languages. About 35% of indexed journals in 2022 published articles in two or more languages.

Multilingual journals from the Global South

Asia: At present, 3,636 journals from Asia are indexed in DOAJ, and 1,253 repositories from Asia are registered on OpenDOAR. National-level digital libraries have been developed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, and Kuwait, with local language OA databases. A study on contributions by BIMSTEC countries (seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations) to DOAJ found that these covered journals in Hindi, Thai, Turkish, Nepali, Arabic, and Sanskrit.

Latin America: Latin America has a long history of non-commercial OA publishing, predating the global OA movement. In their ecosystem of non-APC OA publishing, Redalyc and AmeliCA promote the inclusion of local science and linguistic diversity. Further, within the DOAJ, the predominant languages of journals after English are Spanish (3,821 journals) and Portuguese (2,450 journals); these are languages used in many Latin American nations. Of note, the Indigenous language Quechua has one journal in this database too.

Africa: In Africa, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese are colonial languages, and in addition, there is a rich tapestry of local languages. Journals in these languages are indexed in DOAJ, including local languages like Afrikaans and Sotho.

OA initiatives promoting lingual diversity can provide much-needed global visibility to researchers of the Global South and lead to more citations by researchers in other countries.

See also: Communicating Research on Indigenous Peoples: The Role of Journals and Publishers

Open Journal Systems

Open Journal Systems (OJS), a free and open source software application for publishing scholarly journals online, is used by over 25,000 journals, most of which originate in the Global South. OJS is multilingual and has been translated into over 50 languages.

Helsinki Initiative

The Helsinki Initiative on Multilingualism in Scholarly Communication was conceptualized in 2019. Signatories support three salient recommendations to be adopted by policy-makers, universities and research institutions, funders, libraries, and researchers:

• Supporting the dissemination of research findings for the benefit of the society
• Supporting the publication of locally relevant research
• Promoting language diversity in research assessment, evaluation, and funding.

How can multilingualism be promoted in publishing?

Besides current initiatives, some more ways in which the publishing landscape can work towards increasing linguistic diversity are as follows:

• Journals can have websites in more than one language. Article titles, abstracts, and keywords can be made available in all languages. Further, the use of translation apps and multimedia formats like videos may be encouraged.

• Multilingual editorial teams can boost the prospects of language diversity in scholarly publishing.

• Scholarly journals can encourage content translation by licensing materials for transformation and creation.

• Scientometric indicators supporting the representation of diverse languages in academic discourse may be developed, similar to one suggested by Linkov et al. in 2021. Such indices, going beyond traditional citation metrics, may be used to measure impact and reward researchers publishing in languages besides English.

See also: 8 Ways Academic Journals and Publishers Can Encourage Diversity Among Authors

Closing thoughts

Linguistic diversity promotes effective scholarly communication and upholds the tenets of open science. Lingual diversity has the power to preserve locally relevant research and create impact for multilingual researchers from diverse geographies and cultures. An environment where local languages are valued and supported in academia not only preserves cultural richness but also promotes equitable access to knowledge across diverse communities worldwide. Encouraging linguistic diversity in academic publishing is not merely a matter of preserving languages but a commitment to inclusivity, enabling a more comprehensive and representative global exchange of ideas and research.

The post <strong>Words Without Borders: Linguistic Diversity in Open Access Publishing</strong> appeared first on CACTUS.

See also: What Academic Publishers Need to Know About STM’s SDG Roadmap: A Handy Infographic

SDG 4: Quality Education

Academic publishing plays a pivotal role in advancing SDG 4 by disseminating knowledge. Openly publishing SDG 4-related research not only increases citation and usage but also fosters public engagement and accelerates impact. As mentioned by Springer Nature, “SDG 4 is essential for sustainable development. Education is a fundamental human right and essential for economic growth, social development, and environmental protection. Achieving SDG 4 means creating a world where everyone can reach their full potential.” As with all research, SDG 4-related research is also helpful for the public when published with open access. This ensures that the paper is accessible to people from around the globe without paying any fees. This greatly benefits individuals in low- to middle-income countries.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Research communication serves as a bridge, connecting academic efforts with sustainability. This goal calls for futuristic infrastructure and sustainable and equitable industrialization for all. Infrastructure forms the foundation of academic research, which, in turn, is the basis for scholarly publications. Promoting an inclusive and sustainable infrastructure creates more opportunities for the future through industrialization and gives birth to innovation and creativity.

See also: 7 Ways Research Societies Can Support Science for Peace and Development

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Scholarly publishing contributes to reducing inequalities by ensuring that research from diverse regions is accessible. Academic research often suffers from visibility issues, especially in specific geographical areas. Researchers from the countries in the Global South face such challenges regularly. This can lead to research from these countries not getting into the top journals in specific fields. Just as open access research articles allow readers to access them without any fees, a particular type of open access also lets researchers publish their research without paying the hefty article processing charges, leading to further benefits in addressing inequalities. SDG 10 aims to reduce this North-South divide by emphasizing the importance of fair representation in academic literature.

See also: Science for Peace and Development: How Research Societies Can Leverage Content in Advocacy Efforts

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

SDG 17 underscores the significance of collaboration. With its global reach, academic publishing fosters partnerships by disseminating research findings, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting international cooperation. Without collaboration and transparent networks worldwide, sustainable development is impossible. Research is not confined to a group of people, organizations, or even countries — it is meant to cross boundaries and reach the masses. The commitment to collaboration echoes through the core tenets of SDGs 4, 9, 10, and especially 17.

See also: The Impact of the UN SDGs on University Funding

The UN SDG Publishers Compact

The UN SDG Publishers Compact was introduced to formalize the publishing industry’s commitment to the SDGs. This initiative encourages publishers to align their practices with the SDGs by 2030, promoting responsible research communication. They framed a set of the following ten commitments as mentioned:

1. Committing to the SDGs.

2. Actively promoting and acquiring content.

3. Annually reporting on progress towards achieving SDGs.

4. Nominating a person who will promote SDG progress

5. Raising awareness and promoting the SDGs among staff.

6. Raising awareness and promoting the SDGs among suppliers.

7. Becoming an advocate to customers and stakeholders.

8. Collaborating across cities, countries, and continents.

9. Dedicating budget and other resources towards accelerating progress.

10. Taking action on at least one SDG goal.

By endorsing this compact, publishers, publishing associations, and others commit to these ten points. They aim to promote progress toward achieving the SDGs by 2030 and publish material to create awareness and ingenuity to prosper in this direction.

See also: 5 Action Points for Publishers to Improve Environmental Sustainability

Conclusion

In leadership roles within academic publishing and university administration, embracing the connection between the UN SDGs and scholarly publishing is not merely an opportunity but a responsibility. Upholding the principles of integrity and aligning publishing practices with the SDGs contribute significantly to a more sustainable and equitable global future. Academic publishers play a pivotal role in achieving the United Nations’ vision for a better world by fostering collaboration, reducing inequalities, and advancing quality education.

The post Ink to Impact: Unveiling the Intersection of SDGs and Academic Publishing appeared first on CACTUS.

Here are some ways by which OA publishing can promote human rights.

Documentation of human rights abuses

Proper documentation of what constitutes human rights abuse and how to prevent it ensures that practitioners have access to pertinent examples, rules, and regulations. Documentation can also prevent researchers from intentionally or unwittingly participating in human rights violations. Organizations and societies play a key role in this direction, e.g., the World Medical Association prevents physicians from taking part in human rights violations.

Research provides evidence-based recommendations for effective policies and practices, and OA can help research percolate out of academic circles to inform these efforts.

Role in supporting advocacy efforts

Human rights advocacy aims to create or implement human rights norms, law, or policy. At the heart of human rights and social justice change lies the effective use of information. Publishers can facilitate the dissemination of information related to human rights issues, making this critical information accessible to a wide audience. By providing access to such content, they can amplify the voices of activists, researchers, and human rights organizations, helping to raise awareness and gather support for the protection and promotion of human rights.

Disseminating policy implications of research

Publishers and scholarly societies can leverage their wealth of peer-reviewed research to engage with stakeholders and influence critical issues related to their respective fields. They can develop and utilize new ways of presenting and sharing information to inform policy changes and contribute to global transformation in areas like public health, the economy, and sustainability. Journals on human rights issues can make their research more visible, discoverable, and accessible in a number of ways, e.g., making research available in regional languages and sharing research findings in plain, accessible language.

Access to such research is vital to stimulate further dialog and research on policy, as well as encourage diplomatic efforts, economic or political sanctions, and mediation and conflict resolution.

Impact of OA research on social justice movements

OA research can have a significant impact on social justice movements. The democratization of scholarly knowledge, which is a key aspect of the OA movement, ensures that work is available for anyone to read, usually via the Internet. Research on social movements can advance current understanding of policy from a global perspective and strengthen relevant frameworks. Global movements to challenge inequalities and mobilize for greater justice and progressive policy changes can be ushered in with various campaigns rooted in access to information. Take for example HURIDOCS, which establishes online, user-friendly libraries for access to human rights information for improving advocacy and litigation efforts. It also offers a directory of publicly available and reliable sources of human rights information.

To overcome language barriers limiting access to human rights information, volunteers from the UN Human Rights Office, Wikimedia Foundation, and Wikipedia launched a #WikiForHumanRights campaign to create multilingual content on human rights. More than 700 articles on various human rights topics were edited in over 12 languages, and articles dedicated to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were made available in nine additional languages.

Scholarly publishers in this space can spearhead similar initiatives to meaningfully contribute to social justice movements.

OA and its impact on grassroots movements

Grassroots movements are collaborative efforts of regular individuals working together to initiate change. This type of activism can occur on a global, regional, or community level. Focusing on building power from the ground up can be a powerful and effective approach for safeguarding and promoting human rights. Grassroots movements address a wide spectrum of issues, including environmental conservation, social justice, rural development, women’s empowerment, and more. OA research has the power to amplify grassroots efforts. By opening access to information and research, OA can help motivate grassroots movements for positive change.

Final notes

By bridging knowledge gaps, OA can reduce disparities in access to information, address inequality, and facilitate global collaboration. OA research can have a transformative impact on advocacy, social justice movements, and grassroots movements in shaping the future of human rights across the globe. The promotion of OA to human rights information will pave the way for advancing the field of human rights in both public and private sectors and empower local communities to further human rights causes.

The post <strong>The Potential of Open Access in Promoting Human Rights</strong> appeared first on CACTUS.

See also: Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent: What Academic Publishers and Societies Need to Know About China’s Tech Giants

Digital marketing trends in China

Below are some of the key digital marketing trends and practices in China that academic publishers need to know:

1. Increasing Investment in Mobile Internet Marketing

According to the 2023 Digital Marketing Trend Report in China, overall digital marketing investment is showing a promising increasing trend, recovering quickly from the past three years’ disruption by COVID-19. Mobile internet has the highest proportion of increased digital marketing investment, with 77% of advertisers planning to increase mobile internet marketing investment. Additional resources invested in the internet are mainly reflected in social networking, short video, and live broadcast. Social marketing expenses are expected to be higher than the overall investment level, and social marketing expenses are expected to increase by 17%.

• Use of Big Data

With the rapid development of big data and artificial intelligence, automation has become the predominant practice in Chinese digital marketing. Publishers can automate marketing to increase work efficiency and reduce demands on their workforce. This includes automating social media campaigns, email distribution, and targeted advertising. Additionally, as a result of growing emphasis on “brandformance,” Chinese companies are increasingly using big data to for comprehensive brand monitoring. 

See also: Building an Academic Brand in China: The Importance of Baidu

• Social Customer Relationship Management (SCRM)

sSCRM systems are the most commonly used digital marketing product in China, helping publishers develop close relationships with potential customers through digital social channels. One of China’s most popular SCRM systems is Tencent Qidian, which includes social media functions for QQ, WeChat, WeCom, and Tencent Cloud.

• WeChat Engagement

Livestreaming, private traffic, and community marketing have gained importance as marketing tools in China. Publishers can leverage WeChat, China’s most popular social media platform, to engage with users. For example, Wiley has provided an online learning platform that integrates with WeChat, allowing users to access over 100 videos, including live-stream events for interacting with leading scholars and editors. Elsevier uses its WeChat official subscriptive account to develop original articles and share content through the auto-pushing function. The use of KOLs and short videos as part of marketing campaigns continues to gain importance in China.

See also: WeChat for Academia: 5 Western Publishers Who Have Created an Online Presence in China

• Use of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining a prominent role in marketing efforts by Chinese companies. The SCRM system can analyze and generate user labels according to their behavior and chat records to quickly identify user needs. Publishers can communicate effectively with different users because the WeChat AI assistant can help to categorize new customers automatically. All the user chat data and digital footprints are collected and analyzed for decision-making in marketing.

Furthermore, AI generated content is becoming increasingly popular for marketing. For example, Baidu Inc released an AI-powered art generation platform called Wenxin Yige in August 2022. ByteDance has released an AI-powered short-video editing app called Jianying, which enables users to create videos by merely inputting text.

Insights from digital marketing leaders in China

Given the rapid development of China’s digital ecosystem, it’s not surprising that marketers have to be on top of the latest advances in digitization as well as carefully consider which digital tools and channels they need to use. In the words of Jun Fang, General Manager, GroupM: “Different brands adopt different strategies. Many brands are strengthening the effect, bidding, and sales, which need to be more solid and stable through such a cycle. There are also many brands that will cut the budget and more carefully consider their own media delivery plan.”

According to Siyong Shen, CPO, Choiceform: “When the macro economy changes […], changes in the market and consumers require changes in the way enterprises/publishers operate. One of the changes is to refine the operation of customer experience and create a good reputation to promote the virtuous circle of enterprise growth.”

See also: Linkresearcher.Com: A Powerful Tool for Research Dissemination and Strengthening Academic Brands in China

Conclusion

In conclusion, China’s digital landscape is rapidly evolving, and international publishers need to leverage China’s digital marketing systems and resources to establish a brand reputation and enlarge their impact. By developing a digital marketing strategy and keeping up with the rapid development of the Chinese market, publishers can stay ahead of competition and build a successful brand presence in China.

Are you aiming to build or extend your organization’s presence in China digitally? Download this whitepaper for a comprehensive overview of China’s digital landscape.

The post Five Key Digital Marketing Trends in China That Western Academic Publishers Need to Know appeared first on CACTUS.

What is open science?

According to UNESCO, ”Open science is a set of principles and practices that aim to make scientific research from all fields accessible to everyone for the benefits of scientists and society as a whole.” Open science encompasses practices such as open and immediate publication, data and code sharing, broader research dissemination, and greater collaboration at all levels.

Open science includes both top-down and bottom-up relationships between scientific researchers and interested citizens and their communities. The traditional research model exemplifies the top-down approach with trained scientists conducting studies and disseminating the results through journal publication. The worldwide trend toward open access in science is highlighting the bottom-up model, in which the research study originates within the community from citizens who may or may not be trained scientists.

What is community science?

Community science is a bottom-up approach to research that emphasizes collaboration and is driven by community members. The Association of Science and Technology Center’s (ASTC) Community Science Initiative is one of the growing number of organizations working to advance community science. As stated on their website, “With community science, community members collaborate to conduct and leverage scientific research and technological innovation to advance community priorities and benefit from knowledge and advancements of science and engineering, often in collaboration with scientists and science-engagement practitioners.”

Although the term community science is frequently used interchangeably with citizen science, some publications differentiate between the two. For example, GVI, which offers nature conservancy programs, believes the difference is in the levels of involvement and leadership. “Citizen science mainly draws on the participation of a layperson, usually offering minimal training or instruction. In contrast, community science relies on experts and specialists to provide guidance and assistance during data collection and analysis. Citizen science projects can often reach a broader population and gain more public awareness, while community science projects tend to be more specialized.”

Whatever these research projects are called, they provide almost limitless opportunities for laypersons to become involved in helping to address issues occurring in their communities and the world. This involvement can lead to not only the development of future scientists but also to greater scientific literacy for all.

Examples of community-driven open science initiatives

Community and citizen science projects are proliferating worldwide. A few examples of the many recent community-driven open science initiatives are as follows:

• In the Aso-Kuju National Park in Japan, invasive plants have been negatively affecting the park’s biodiversity. To address this issue, a researcher worked with local participants to collect geospatial data for the plant species. Using this information, a management plan was created to lessen the plant’s impact. The initiative results, along with the data, were published in a scholarly journal. This project was made possible by the collaboration of non-expert participants with expert researchers.

• Another ecological monitoring project, Public Lab, which is under ASTC, was created in response to the 2010 BP Oil Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. According to their website, “Public Lab launched an open source platform to collect data and maps of changes in the coastline over time. This effort has since transformed into a strong community-created and -driven environmental monitoring and assessment program.”

• Ottawa Riverkeeper, a charitable organization dedicated to protecting the ecological health of the Ottawa River in Canada, is involved in several investigations of the river’s watershed health. For some of these projects, volunteers are relied on “to collect data from a much broader swatch of the watershed than we could investigate on our own.”

• The Singapore government sponsors numerous opportunities for citizens to engage in scientific research, which are published on their national parks website. For example, one such investigation involves an intensive field study to document the park’s flora and fauna diversity to which the public are invited to participate in collaboration with expert naturalists.

• In South Africa, citizens were invited to join the Snorkel for Science Initiative, with over 1,000 snorkelers participating in the past year. These citizen scientists joined a marine biologist in a guided snorkel to document the range of benthic sharks in the area. Photos taken of the sharks are used to monitor the animal’s population and health of its environment.

• Community science initiatives are also being introduced into education, where most programs have traditionally used top-down approaches. In Chile, a study was conducted in which bottom-up approaches were used to engage students in educational institutions. These citizen science investigations were based on students’ interests and developed by students in collaboration with teachers and scientists. The results of the study indicated that such an approach yields quality research and promotes scientific skills and learning in the participating students.

• The European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) was established in 2013 “to encourage the growth of citizen science in Europe, and to support the participation of the general public in research processes – across science, social science, humanities and the arts.” The organization studies the influence of citizen science on research and scientific capacity-building, along with sponsoring and coordinating citizen science projects, such as the following example.

• COMPIR, a program under the ECSA, focuses on local air quality across Europe. Citizen participants, even those without a science background are “invited to analyze the data and use it to co-create new climate friendly behaviors and policies that address sustainability both at home and across the continent to improve the quality of the air for all.” This effort involves 15 different organizations from six different European countries.

As can be seen from just these few examples, numerous opportunities exist for citizens to participate in research designed to investigate the issues affecting their communities. In addition to improving lives and environments locally, these projects expand scientific literacy and encourage further involvement in research activities.

The post An Introduction to Community-Driven Open Science Initiatives appeared first on CACTUS.

Meet the Insights XChange Podcast, proudly presented by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Hosted by Nikesh Gosalia, President of Global Academic and Publisher Relations, this podcast features captivating interviews and insights from industry experts.

Why Listen?

In today’s fast-paced academic world, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and crucial issues is essential. Whether you’re an experienced researcher, a seasoned publication professional, or simply curious about the world of scholarly communication, this podcast will give you the information you need.

What’s in Store?

Every Insights XChange Podcast episode features lively discussions with academic experts. These conversations dive deep into pressing issues, offering fresh perspectives and actionable takeaways. From the future of open research to the potential of AI in publishing, this podcast covers it all.

Inaugural Episode

Our debut episode features a true pioneer. Nikesh Gosalia, President of Global Academic and Publisher Relations, will sit down with Ashley Farley, the Program Officer of Knowledge and Research Services at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Enjoy a captivating exploration of open research, the sustainability of the Article Processing Charge model, the game-changing potential of AI in publishing, and the pressing need for inclusivity in academia.

Ashley Farley brings a wealth of experience and insights about scholarly publishing, and her conversation with Nikesh promises to be both thought-provoking and enlightening.

Spotify link: https://ow.ly/FlHu50PRM0y

Apple Podcasts link: https://ow.ly/1rYv50PRM0A

Google Podcasts link: https://ow.ly/uR5U50PRM0B

YouTube: https://ow.ly/4rtU50PRMTT

Thank you for being part of our community. We can’t wait to embark on this captivating journey into the world of research and knowledge with you.

The post Launching the Insights XChange Podcast: Conversations Shaping Academia appeared first on CACTUS.

1. How popular at present are AI-powered tools to complement the manuscript evaluation process, and what are the primary motivations for their adoption?

Response: AI-powered manuscript review tools are in early to mid stages but gaining fast traction both in pre-submission (author-facing) and post-submission (publisher-facing) use cases. The primary motivators are efficiency benefits for publishers through time and cost savings. Adoption levels vary across journals and publishers, with many seeing meaningful impact in time to publication.

2. How does AI complement the expertise of human reviewers, and how do you strike the right balance between automated assessments and human judgment?

Response: By providing initial screening and recommendations, AI can reduce the time and effort spent by human reviewers. The right balance of AI and human judgement depends on the journal’s specific needs and resources – AI can filter out clearly poor quality or “risky” manuscripts, but final accept/reject decisions in fuzzy cases would require human judgment for nuance and context.

3. What are the typical challenges that a journal or publisher may encounter while integrating AI into the manuscript evaluation system, and how can they be addressed?

Response: The integration of advanced AI tools into manuscript evaluation systems offers the promise of streamlining editorial processes and enhancing the quality, TAT (Turn Around Time) and speed of the published work. While many publishers have already integrated the tools into their workflow, it’s still a long road ahead for AI to be adopted to become the base assistive layer across the industry.

Some of the typical challenges the publishers face are:

1. Data Quality and deep understanding of the industry: AI systems require high-quality, unbiased training data for accurate evaluations. The integrity and effectiveness of any AI system heavily rely on the quality of the data used in training. The adage “garbage in, garbage out” holds especially true for machine learning models; subpar or skewed training data can result in a model that is inaccurate or, worse, biased. In the context of manuscript evaluation, data quality becomes an even more sensitive issue, as publishing decisions have far-reaching implications for academic careers and the advancement of knowledge.
2. Expectations from AI: Publishers often desire a near-perfect system with minimal t to zero false positives. It is important to understand that AI tools are assistive and they can work until a certain extent, while its important to expect speed and efficiency from the tools, its still too early to expect complete takeover of all publication processes with AI.
3. System Compatibility: Manuscript Submission Systems like Editorial Manager and ScholarOne are often not owned by the publishers so integrating AI becomes a complex task that involves multiple stakeholders.

One solution to all the challenges above is to use tools which are built for the industry and have gone through multiple iterations and have been perfected. Paperpal Preflight is one such tool that is built by CACTUS, who have been in the academia industry for over 21 years and are the frontrunners in AI and Machine Learning powered products.

4. What measures can be taken to protect the integrity of the manuscript evaluation process, ensuring that AI does not introduce any biases or distort the evaluation outcomes?

Response: Measures to reduce biases include the use of diverse training data, auditing techniques, and regular human quality evaluations, which all contribute to maintaining integrity of the process. Although several straightforward decisions can be automated in the case of high AI confidence, critical decisions that require nuance and context should be handled by humans.

5. What role do you see AI playing in the future landscape of peer review, and how do you anticipate it will evolve to address emerging challenges in scholarly publishing?

Response: AI has a lot of potential to help out in the peer review process for scientific articles. But it’s not all smooth sailing. One big issue is that AI could help spread false or incorrect information. Since we rely on good science to build new discoveries, it’s crucial to make sure AI gets it right. People are also generally skeptical about trusting AI in this area, especially if it makes mistakes.

As AI gets better, it will do more things like initial checks of submitted articles, flagging sketchy submissions, suggesting who could review the article, and catching errors that human editors might miss. However, the better AI gets, the better it also becomes at creating fake or fraudulent articles. So it’s like a cat-and-mouse game where the AI has to keep improving to catch these issues.

Going forward, AI tools will need to keep getting better and smarter to keep up with new challenges. Even with all this tech, humans are still crucial for making fair and ethical choices in what gets published. The best way ahead is to let AI do what it’s good at, but always have people involved to make the final decisions and catch anything the machines miss. This means being open to trying new things but doing so carefully and responsibly.

The post How AI is Revolutionizing Scholarly Manuscript Evaluation in Publishing: An Interview with Nishchay Shah appeared first on CACTUS.