New Online Journal, The Winnower, Looks to Change the Rules for Scientific Publishing
The Winnower is an Open Access, Open Review Publishing Platform for Scientists
BLACKSBURG, Va., May 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Winnower, an open access online science publishing platform that employs open post-publication peer review, was officially launched today. Founded by Virginia Tech graduate student Josh Nicholson, The Winnower serves as a cost-effective alternative to traditional scientific publishing and emphasizes transparency, open discussion and debate in all areas of science.
"As a published author, I have seen firsthand the obstacles that exist within the current traditional scientific publication system," said Josh Nicholson, founder of The Winnower. "It can be an expensive process, bogged down in politics, bias and tenure games, but it doesn't have to be. The Winnower looks to turn the current system upside down with a platform that will foster transparency and communication by using open post-publication peer review for every paper we publish."
With The Winnower, the scientific publishing process has become a "do it yourself" (DIY) endeavor. Authors upload their finished work to the website, where it is then immediately available to be read and reviewed by the Winnower community. Once reviewed, authors will have the ability to revise their works before a final paper is posted and given a digital object identifier (DOI). Additionally, reviews will be open for the duration of the paper's life, while article-level metrics and the reviews themselves will track the importance and accuracy of the paper. Content published with The Winnower will be licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.
In addition to published scientific papers, The Winnower will also feature two sections called "The Grain" and "The Chaff," which will give an in-depth look at famous and infamous scientific works. The Grain will be comprised of short essays by authors of successful papers that will detail the work as well as the story behind the work, while The Chaff will highlight retracted papers and their authors and focus on the events that led to the failed studies and what can be learned from them.
The Winnower will charge a nominal fee of $100-dollars for each publication. The money will go exclusively to the growth of the website and will ensure the site's sustainability as opposed to relying on grants. The fee will also limit possible spamming of the system.
"The aim of The Winnower is to separate good pieces of research from the flawed in a completely transparent and open environment," adds Nicholson. Through an open post publication review, we will build a community of reviewers where ideas can be shared, discussed and debated in the name of science and in pursuit of the truth."
For more information on The Winnower, visit www.thewinnower.com.
SOURCE The Winnower
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