Happy New Year to all of our readers.
For 2018, we’d like to promote scholarly communications activities that will ensure that your research is open and accessible – here are some suggestions for your Scholarly Communications New Year resolution(s).
Pick those which are most relevant for you, and let us know how you get on!
- I will make my outputs including my data open, fair and discoverable
Kent Data Repository recently launched – you can read more here. - I will think about communication/dissemination and research impact throughout my project rather than as an add-on at the end
The Research Excellence team can help you track your impact and the OSC is here to support all types of dissemination – check out our posts on Kudos and on working with parliament. - I will communicate in the most suitable way for the research user
In addition to journal articles, consider writing a summary report, contributing to the Conversation, using Social Media, or using Youtube to reach the public. - I will check self-archiving policies of journals I am considering publishing in
…and (where appropriate) will favour those which allow green Open Access with the shortest possible embargo. For REF compliance articles need to be available within a set period (12 months for STEM, 24 months for SS&H), but factoring embargo periods into publication decisions will also allow readers without extensive institutional subscriptions to access your publications as early as possible, potentially furthering advancements in your field. - I will retain a copy of my author accepted manuscript and ensure that all collaborators have a copy
This is the post-peer review version before any formatting or logos are added by the Publisher – this is almost always the version you will need for KAR unless Gold Open Access has been paid for. All UK authors are required to archive the manuscript in their institutional repository within 3 months so getting into the habit of circulating the final manuscript on acceptance will really help co-authors. - I will ensure all of my research is on KAR as soon after acceptance as possible
Particularly important for journal articles and conference items as from 1st April 2018 these need to be on KAR within 3 months of acceptance (our REF Assisted Deposit service can help!). - I will update my staff profile to reflect my current research projects
This helps to ensure that anyone looking for an expert in your field will be able to find you. - I will include the DOI or a Kudos link in all communication about my research
This allows Altmetrics to be tracked (allowing you to measure the effect of your efforts) and, more importantly, for readers to be able to access the paper being discussed. - I will embrace relevant new technologies
New tools in Scholarly Communications include Figshare, Publons and F1000 to name just a few – contact us for help with any of these. - I will write a lay summary for all new publications
This will help non-specialist communications colleagues in disseminating your work, as well as being useful for potential collaborators or postgraduate students who may be interested in working with you. Kudos is a useful tool for adding a lay abstract and letting those outside your field know why your findings are significant (also a useful skill when writing grant applications that will be assessed by an interdisciplinary panel). - I will share my conference slides
There are only a limited number of people at conferences. You can use KAR or Figshare (which allocates a DOI) to make your slides available to an international audience.
- I will register for an ORCID
ORCID provides a persistent identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher. It is now used widely by many publishers funding bodies. ORCID can integrate with Scopus and a number of other databases so can usually be populated quickly. It will be particularly useful if you have a less-than-unique name. - I will install Unpaywall, the Open Access button or an equivalent tool
Read more about these in our blog post or in this Nature piece. - I will write/release at least one non-academic piece on my research (ideally released under a CC-BY licence)
Could you write a blog post, a Q&A, or a Conversation piece (the Press Office runs Media training)? Alternatively you may consider a Think Kent lecture. - I will talk to the Office of Scholarly Communications about how best to boost the profile of my research.
We don’t bite, honest 🙂 Read Dr Adelina Gschwandtner’s testimonial on working with us.
The OSC can help with any of the above, and can answer or point you in the right direction for any other research-related queries. Please contact us – we enjoy discussing research over coffee!