PaperHive Conversations: Celeste Sassi #2

PaperHive Ambassador Celeste SassiPaperHive Ambassador Celeste Sassi

How did you learn about Open Access publishing
and why did you decide to make your research open access?

Looking for papers I have just noticed that some papers online could not be freely accessed. This means that you have either to be within an academic environment or to pay to read these. Open Access is the ´default´ publishing policy at UCL, the University from which I received my PhD. Although at the end, I did not have to decide, I would have chosen the Open Access anyway.

How does Open Access contribute to a better
public understanding of scientific/academic research?

Through the wide diffusion of research and therefore education, without any economic limit. Papers become free of charge available for everyone everywhere, above all, underdeveloped countries, that could not afford to pay to read a paper.

Do you think Open Access disadvantages early career researchers?

Not at all. By contrast, it promotes the circulation of their research.

If you could change one thing about scholarly communication what would it be?

I would apply the ´Open Access´ policy to all the publications. Without any restriction.

About the Author

Lisa Matthias
Studies North American Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. Her research interests are Media Studies, Political Communication, and US Foreign Policy.