Panel: OA: Creating a Level Playing Field for the Global South with Anne Kitson

Moderator: Anne Kitson, SVP Cell Press and The Lancet, Elsevier, London
Scientific publishing is transforming rapidly into an OA dominated landscape. Since the advent of access programs such as Research4Life, which bridges the access gap for researchers in developing countries, we have seen a steady increase in research output from the global south—a 10.5% growth in output between 2009-2018. However, this positive trend towards a more inclusive research ecosystem could be undermined by the OA cost burden that would be placed by authors in developing countries. From the September 2020 white paper co-published by the International Center for the Study of Research and STM, we know that in 2018, 75% of researchers from developing countries still published in subscription journals. How can the publishing community ensure a more—rather than less--inclusive OA playing field for the Global South? Panelists will bring researcher, editor, publisher and Research4Life perspectives to map out the burning issues and best solutions.

Andrea Powell, Outreach Director and Publisher Coordinator, Research4Life, STM

Dr. Haseeb Md. Irfanullah, Independent Consultant - Environment, Climate Change, & Research System, Bangladesh

Prof. Yap Boum, Regional Africa Representative, Epicentre (MSF)

Dr. Uduak Okomo, Postdoctoral Fellow based in The Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine