Exactly ten years ago, our three specialist journals took a decisive step into the future of scientific publishing: the introduction of the Open Access model. Since then, the museum, in the form of the Coordination Centre for Scientific Publishing (KWP), has been continuously committed to promoting free access to scientific research and creating an open knowledge infrastructure.
Prof. Johannes Vogel, Ph.D., Director General of the MfN, emphasises the special role of in-house journals for the Museum für Naturkunde:
‘Our aim was to enable free access to scientific findings for everyone and to make the knowledge produced in our research museum available worldwide - free of charge. This has proved to be groundbreaking, as open access creates the basis for collaborating on global challenges such as addressing species extinction. Today, ten years later, we can look back on an impressive success story of our in-house journals: through open access, these journals have made research results available worldwide and helped to raise international collaboration in research to a new level.’
This step towards an open and accessible knowledge society has enriched international research in a lasting way. Our goal for the future will continue to be to promote joint dialogue and solutions to global challenges through free access to scientific results.
Reasons for the switch to Open Access
The decision to convert to Open Access was a reaction to several developments in scientific publishing. The number of submissions and publications was growing steadily. The KWP emphasises that open access offered the opportunity to ‘meet this demand and increase the visibility of research’. In addition, open access not only increased the citation frequency and reach of articles, but also expanded the international circle of authors and readers, which ultimately significantly promoted the global networking of science.
At the beginning of 2014, all journals of the Museum für Naturkunde transitioned to open access publishing. For the journal Fossil Record, this meant the transition from the renowned publisher Wiley to Copernicus Publications. At the same time, affiliated journals, as Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift and Zoosystematics and Evolution, launched their publication with Pensoft Publisher in 2014. Since 2022, all three of our journals have been published under the umbrella of Pensoft Publisher. We can therefore proudly look back on almost 10 years of successful collaboration with these publishers, which underpins our commitment to the free exchange of knowledge.
The importance of open access for science
Open Access has decisively advanced the democratisation of knowledge by making research results freely accessible to all. This promotes interdisciplinary exchange, as researchers from different fields can access relevant knowledge more easily. It also significantly increases the visibility and influence of published work. In developing countries, open access opens up new opportunities to improve access to scientific resources and strengthen the educational landscape.
Our greatest achievements of the last 10 years
Over the past ten years, our journals have undergone a remarkable development. Particularly noteworthy is the impressive stability and continuous increase in the Journal Impact Factor (JIF), especially for the Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift (DEZ) and Fossil Record (FR). These successes emphasise the growing scientific recognition and relevance of our journals and highlight the contribution they make to international research.
The number of publications in our journals has also increased significantly during this decade. Zoosystematics and Evolution (ZSE) in particular has seen a significant increase in publications over several years, which has further cemented its role as a leading platform for scientific publications. The increased number of publications is an impressive sign of the trust placed in us by researchers worldwide.
In addition, the submission statistics reflect the continued success of our journals. Year after year, we record a growing number of submissions, which emphasises the attractiveness of our journals for the scientific community. Despite the increased number of submissions, the rejection rate remains moderate, which ensures the excellence and high-quality standards of our publications.
Acknowledgements
Our deepest thanks to the authors who have placed their trust in us over the past ten years and submitted their valuable research findings to us. We would also like to thank the reviewers, whose valuable feedback has ensured the high quality of the published work. Not forgetting our readers, whose continued interest and commitment form the backbone of our journals. We would also like to thank the publishers Copernicus Publications and Pensoft Publisher, who have supported our journals in an extremely professional manner over the past ten years. Finally, we would like to thank all the editors and other contributors whose work has made a significant contribution to the success of our journals.
Looking towards the future
Even after a decade of successful work in the open access model, we are just at the beginning of an exciting journey. We have set ourselves ambitious goals for the coming years. We want to drive forward the further development of the Open Access model and adapt it to new technological trends. Our commitment to ethical standards and transparency in scientific research remains a central component of our work.
‘Our vision is to continue to be a pioneering platform for the exchange of groundbreaking scientific knowledge and to offer researchers worldwide an open, accessible and innovative publication venue. We are proud to be committed to advancing biodiversity research by providing open access to our journals. We are convinced that freely accessible scientific knowledge is crucial to realising our vision of an open knowledge infrastructure for nature that promotes diverse thinking and action,’ says Dr Frederik Berger, Deputy Head of Research Division Future of the Collection, Head of Service Development & Effectiveness.
Closing words
‘Looking ahead to the coming decades, we will maintain our commitment to the dissemination of knowledge, the promotion of science and free access to research findings. Together with our partners, we can help to ensure that science remains open, accessible and of benefit to all,’ say Stefanie Paß and Clara Schindler, Coordination Centre for Scientific Publishing, part of the library at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. Ten years of Open Access are just the beginning.