Dear category theorists, This is to let you know (in case you are not) that there is presently a campain to boycott Elsevier. http://thecostofknowledge.com/ Best, André [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]
On 28/01/12 12:58, Joyal, André wrote:
Dear category theorists,
This is to let you know (in case you are not) that there is presently a campain to boycott Elsevier.
http://thecostofknowledge.com/
Best, André
As Andre says in the link, mathematical knowledge should be free. But a problem in boycotting Elsevier is that jobs and grants depend on the dreadful system based on the impact factor of journals. A good way of making mathematical knowledge free is to send all mathematical knowledge to the arXiv. Also, to upload as much as possible mathematical knowledge to the net, legally or illegally. To create a math-megaupload. e.d. [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]
Dear Eduardo, Supporting the boycott is probably easier for an established mathematician like myself than for a young mathematician without a permanent position. On the other hand, solving this problem is important for the young generation, since it concerns the scientific life of the future. I agree that there are other modes of action, like putting our papers on the arXiv. I am strongly supporting that. But it does not address the problem of our libraries which are forced to spend huge sums of money to buy knowledges produced by universities, not by publishing houses. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/29/academic-publishers-murd... http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jan/16/academic-publishers-enemies-sc... Best, André [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]
Part of the point of a mass organized boycott is to collapse the "impact factor" of Elsevier journals. Of course, the boycott might be even more effective if scientists were to refuse to play along with the "impact factor" charade and en masse declare that they will ignore the corrupt statistic when judging grant proposals and job candidates. I see some biologists have signed on. Getting the boycott to spread beyond the mathematical sciences and to include a few Nobel laureates as well as Fields Medalists would make it a whole lot more effective. (Of course, I though ArXiV already was a "Math-Megaupload".) Best Thoughts, D. Yetter On 28 Jan 2012, at 14:30, Eduardo J. Dubuc wrote:
On 28/01/12 12:58, Joyal, André wrote:
Dear category theorists,
This is to let you know (in case you are not) that there is presently a campain to boycott Elsevier.
http://thecostofknowledge.com/
Best, André
As Andre says in the link, mathematical knowledge should be free.
But a problem in boycotting Elsevier is that jobs and grants depend on the dreadful system based on the impact factor of journals.
A good way of making mathematical knowledge free is to send all mathematical knowledge to the arXiv.
Also, to upload as much as possible mathematical knowledge to the net, legally or illegally. To create a math-megaupload.
e.d.
[For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]
participants (3)
-
David Yetter -
Eduardo J. Dubuc -
Joyal, André