A CIÊNCIA PRECISA DE PIRATARIA

Summary

The video delves into the complex world of scientific publishing, highlighting how knowledge is often locked behind expensive paywalls, making it inaccessible to many. It introduces Alexsandra Elbat, a neuroscientist who challenged this system by creating 'Sci-Hub', a platform that provides free access to scientific articles. Despite facing legal action, Alexsandra’s efforts shine a light on the inequalities in scientific research access. The narrative also touches on the financial interests of major publishing companies and their profit-driven models, contrasting them with the goals of open knowledge and equitable access to scientific information.

Takeaways

• 😀 Scientific knowledge is sometimes either undervalued or expensive, with some researchers charging high prices for access to articles.
• 😀 Scientific articles go through a lengthy peer review process before being published, involving multiple revisions and feedback from experts.
• 😀 The process of scientific publication can take years, as seen in the case of a study that took over 10 years to be accepted and published.
• 😀 Once a scientific paper is published, it becomes available to thousands of scientists around the world, who validate or challenge the findings.
• 😀 Many scientific articles are locked behind paywalls, requiring expensive subscriptions to access, with prices often exceeding $30 for a single article.
• 😀 Some journals offer open-access articles, but publishing in these journals can cost scientists thousands of dollars, further contributing to the financial burden.
• 😀 The largest publishers of scientific journals make billions in profits annually, with a significant portion of the funds going to shareholders rather than the researchers.
• 😀 Scientists, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication process do not typically receive compensation for their work, and may even have to pay to publish their research.
• 😀 Open-access advocates, like Aaron Swartz and Alexandra Elbakyan, challenge the traditional system by making scientific knowledge freely available to all.
• 😀 Alexandra Elbakyan created Sci-Hub, a platform that allows users to access paywalled scientific articles, and has become a target of legal action from large publishers.

Q & A

What is the process for publishing a scientific article?

The process begins with scientists conducting research and writing an article describing their discovery, methods, results, and implications. The article is then submitted to a scientific journal, where it undergoes a peer review process. This involves other experts evaluating the article, suggesting corrections, and ensuring its quality before it is published. The process can take several months or even years.

How long does the peer review process take?

The peer review process typically takes several months. For instance, one article mentioned in the transcript was submitted in July but wasn't accepted for publication until the following May, almost 11 years later, showing how long this process can sometimes take.

What is the difference between open access and restricted access articles?

Open access articles are freely available to everyone, without any payment required. In contrast, restricted access articles require a fee to read, with the money usually going to the publishers and not the scientists who wrote the articles.

What are the costs associated with publishing a scientific article in an open access journal?

Publishing in an open access journal can be very expensive. Some journals charge up to $1,695 or more for an article to be published with open access, which is a significant financial burden for many researchers.

Where does the money from publishing scientific articles go?

Most of the money from article publication fees goes to the publishing companies, not the scientists. A significant portion of the profits is directed towards the publishers' shareholders, with margins as high as 38% in some cases.

How profitable is the scientific publishing industry?

The scientific publishing industry is highly profitable, generating over $10 billion annually. For example, one major publisher, Elsevier, reported profits greater than 38%, which is higher than companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon.

Why are scientific articles so expensive?

The high cost of scientific articles is due to the publishing model, where the authors often pay significant fees to have their work published in journals. These publishers charge high prices for access, yet the scientists themselves do not benefit financially from these fees.

What role do editors and reviewers play in the publication process?

Editors evaluate the significance of submitted articles and send them to experts for peer review. Reviewers, who are usually other scientists, assess the quality of the research, suggest revisions, and ensure the article is scientifically sound. Despite their crucial roles, neither editors nor reviewers are typically paid for their work.

What was the impact of Aaron Swartz's actions on scientific knowledge access?

Aaron Swartz's actions, including his downloading of millions of scientific articles, highlighted the issue of restricted access to knowledge. His work and manifesto inspired others to seek greater access to scientific information, although it led to legal trouble for him. His legacy continues to influence the movement for open access to research.

How did Alexsandra contribute to the open access movement?

Alexsandra, a neuroscientist, created a platform called 'Rubi' that allowed users to access scientific articles for free by using shared credentials. Despite the legality of her actions, which faced legal repercussions, her work demonstrated a commitment to making scientific knowledge freely available to all.