Interested in academic publishing and like films?

We’re hosting a screening of a new film documentary, “Paywall: The Business of Scholarship” on Wednesday 19 September.

Paywall gives you the inside track on the big business of academic publishing – essential viewing for both early career academics and seasoned scholars. Produced by Professor Jason Schmitt at Clarkson University, the film explores issues around traditional for-profit publishing methods and the more recent push towards an Open Access model.

This 65 minute film will discuss why:

• Universities pay $25.2 billion a year to academic publishers, to be able to access articles and papers their own researchers have written
• Elsevier makes a greater profit margin than companies like Apple, Facebook and Google
• We should break down the paywalls that limit access to research, increasing its visibility and impact, and not disadvantaging those who can’t afford massive subscription fees

We will be streaming the film at both the Cranfield and Shrivenham sites; please come along!

• 9:30 – Welcome to the viewing
• 9:40 – Movie start time (65 min)
• 10:45 – Reconnect and continue the virtual discussion over refreshments

If you are unable to attend the screening but are interested in seeing the film, you will be able to download it to watch on your own PC or device afterwards.

All Cranfield University staff, researchers and students are welcome, but to help us judge numbers we’d be grateful if you could book your seat.

Image from Pixabay