Open Access symposium "Research without paywalls"

On 22nd October the University of Groningen Library hosts the symposium Research without paywalls - Chances and challenges of open access for the humanities and social sciences to discuss open access publishing in the humanities and social sciences.

This half-day conference brings together open access experts, scholars, librarians and everyone interested in open access to discuss the opportunities it provides for academic publishing.

While open access took off fast in the natural sciences, engineering and medical disciplines, its acceptance in the humanities and social sciences has so far been lower. Historians or sociologists, among others, often cite different publication strategies and fewer funding options as reasons why they find it difficult to go open access. Are paywalls inevitable for publishing in the humanities and social sciences? What would make a transition to open access attractive?

Open access experts and beginners welcome

Featuring renowned researchers and open access experts, the symposium opens with Martin Paul Eve (University of London, founder of the Open Library of Humanities) who addresses the why and how of open access in the humanities.

Groningen and Utrecht researchers Andrej Zwitter, Hedderik van Rijn, Hayo Terband and Marleen Janssen will then share stories about their experience with open access and present their open access journals.

No matter your involvement in open access, everyone is cordially invited to join the symposium which will offer opportunities for debate and display: Exchange with fellow scholars and learn more about the open access facilities and support the University offers for researchers.

This symposium takes place during the international Open Access Week (19th to 23rd October 2015).