How Global Collaboration Shapes the Future of Academic Publishing

Every Young Researcher Deserves a Guiding Hand Research is exciting, full of curiosity, ideas, and the promise of discovery. Yet behind every breakthrough, there’s often struggle. I’ve seen — and personally experienced — researchers running from pillar to post just to get answers to doubts that even well-meaning supervisors may not have solutions for. The reality is that research today is evolving faster than ever. New methodologies, advanced data tools, interdisciplinary overlaps, and ethical considerations often create challenges that traditional supervisory structures aren’t fully equipped to handle. 🌿 Why This Matters Research is more than a degree — it’s a journey of curiosity, critical thinking, and contribution to knowledge. Without proper guidance: Students feel isolated and frustrated. Progress slows, and confidence wanes. First-generation researchers, women, and students from smaller towns are disproportionately affected. This is not a failure of students or supervisors — it’s a systemic challenge that calls for structured support. 💡 Imagine a Research Help Desk Every university could have a dedicated space for researchers, where they can: Connect with experts in methodology, data analysis, and academic writing Get guidance on research design, referencing, and publications Attend workshops on ethics, plagiarism, and proposal development Collaborate across disciplines and learn from peers Access technology support for software, archives, and new tools Such a desk would complement supervisors, ensuring no researcher feels lost or unsupported. 🌍 Learning from Global Practices Many universities abroad have writing centers, statistical consulting units, and research offices. These systems: Reduce stress and unnecessary struggle Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration Empower marginalized groups to pursue research confidently Align institutions with global academic standards Implementing this in India would be a game-changer for young scholars. 🔧 A Call to Action Research is not a test of endurance — it is a journey of exploration. Every question deserves an answer. Every researcher deserves guidance. Universities and policymakers should make Research Help Desks a permanent part of higher education infrastructure. Because curiosity thrives best when paired with guidance, and no researcher should ever have to run from pillar to post again. 🌱 #Research #PhD #HigherEducation #IndianUniversities #AcademicSupport #ResearchCulture #Innovation #PolicyChange

🔬 Publication Struggles Among Ph.D. Scholars: A Silent Crisis in Research Training and Integrity Behind every published paper lies a story — not just of discovery, but of struggle, pressure, and perseverance. Yet, many Ph.D. scholars today find themselves trapped in a publication-driven race where quantity overshadows quality, and survival often takes precedence over scientific integrity. Let’s face it — • The pressure to publish for fellowships, career advancement, or even degree completion has never been higher. • Many institutions offer minimal mentoring on research design, data integrity, and ethical publishing. • Socioeconomic constraints push scholars to prioritize short-term results over meaningful inquiry. • The absence of a nurturing research ecosystem leaves many vulnerable to predatory journals, plagiarism traps, and burnout. This is not just a scholar’s problem — it’s a systemic failure. If we truly care about the future of science, we must: ✅ Strengthen research training and mentoring ecosystems. ✅ Integrate ethics and publication literacy early in doctoral programs. ✅ Promote well-being and inclusivity in academic spaces. ✅ Shift institutional focus from “publish or perish” to “publish with purpose.” It’s time we speak openly about the hidden emotional, financial, and ethical tolls of the current publication culture — and start building a research environment where integrity, curiosity, and compassion guide our work. 💭 What reforms do you think could make research training more humane and authentic? #ResearchIntegrity #PhDLife #HigherEducation #AcademicPublishing #ResearchCulture #ScholarlyCommunication #DoctoralResearch

Why is the dissemination of scientific information so important? In #science, high impact emerges through #dissemination. It transforms experiences and acquired knowledge into collective understanding. Data, observations, and results gain meaning only when shared, discussed, and applied. Without circulation, even great discoveries risk being lost. Sharing fuels innovation, fosters dialogue, and ensures knowledge evolves through collaboration and broader understanding. History teaches us that even the most extraordinary discoveries can fade if not shared. The Vikings reached North America about five centuries before Columbus, yet the news never spread beyond their community. Without dissemination, the discovery was lost to time. This example reminds us that knowledge, if it doesn’t circulate, risks disappearing, along with its potential to drive progress. Sharing drives growth. Within an organization, it helps spread knowledge, highlight the value of one’s work, and make others aware of the origin or impact of their own. Externally, it builds trust, encourages dialogue, and strengthens the connection between research, practice, and society. To share also means accepting that knowledge evolves, that it can be enriched, improved, and sometimes even challenged. Because in the end, science, like any form of knowledge, does not grow in the solitude of individuals, but in the living network of those who choose to circulate ideas, data, and meaning. #ScienceCommunication #KnowledgeSharing #Innovation #Collaboration #ScientificProgress #LifeAtCopan

As I work on my thesis on Rural Innovation, I keep asking myself one question: Why does this even matter? Why spend so much time, energy, and money—and honestly, a bit of stress—on something if it doesn’t actually move the needle? Well, it turns out, it does. And what I’ve been discovering is fascinating. Last year, I completed the Innovation and Technology Acceleration Program through MIT. One of my professors, Ray Reagans from MIT Sloan, shared something that stuck: “When you look at the best-performing companies in the world today, they’re diverse—and that diversity fuels their ability to innovate.” The logic is simple but powerful: when people with different backgrounds tackle a problem, they bring unique perspectives and creative ways to solve it. That diversity drives innovation. Following that thread, I came across a massive study that analyzed six million academic papers written by nine million scientists. Researchers looked at the impact (measured by citations within five years) and compared it to how diverse the author teams were—not just by ethnicity or age, but also by affiliation, meaning their academic, regional, or professional backgrounds. The result? Diverse groups had a significantly larger impact. Now here’s where it gets interesting for me: if diversity of affiliation boosts research impact, could having more rural innovators involved in academic research make the work itself more powerful? That’s a question worth exploring—and one worth our universities and governments investing in. Because it’s not just about fairness or inclusion; it’s about national productivity and innovation capacity. I’ll keep posting updates as my research unfolds. It’s a three-year journey, and I’m curious to see how these early thoughts will evolve over time. #RuralInnovation #MIT #Innovation #Diversity #ResearchImpact #EconomicDevelopment #RuralCanada https://lnkd.in/g5dM_JgJ

✨🌐𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜-𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗿𝗮🖥️✨ Imagine a future where AI-generated imagery blurs the line between reality and synthesis, transforming how we create, communicate, and understand visual media. How do we govern this new landscape as hyper-realistic synthetic images and videos challenge our notions of creativity and truth? Students who are passionate about topics related to Gen AI, AIGC and/or AIGI, and who have experience in research within the humanities and social sciences, are invited to join the following research project as a research postgraduate at HKBU: 👇   🔍 Project: Governing AI-generated Imagery in the Post-photographic Era 👨🏫 Supervisor: Prof. ZOU Sheng, Department of Journalism   Description: With the proliferation of AI-generated imagery (AIGI), we are entering a post-photographic era, marked by hyper-realistic synthetic images and videos that present unique opportunities and challenges across various sectors, from journalism and advertising to arts and entertainment. The notion of creativity and the epistemic value of images are being contested and redefined. The governance framework needs to accommodate to such disruptive transformations, balancing the imperative to incentivise innovation and the necessity to pre-empt digital harms. By identifying limitations of current regulations and the concerns of key stakeholders, this project sets out to map out the AIGI landscape on major social media platforms and explore promising pathways to governing AIGI in the new era. For Prof. Zou’s contact information and details about his research interests, please visit: https://lnkd.in/ggtmiVuB 👉 Discover more exciting research projects and available programmes at HKBU: https://lnkd.in/gAf4PNsn Prof. Sheng Zou   #HKBU #GraduateSchool #MeetOurFaculty #PhDOpportunity #ResearchProject #Journalism #Communications #PhDStudent #HumanitiesAndCultures #AIgeneratedImagery #GenerativeAI #SyntheticMedia #CulturalPolicy #VisualMedia #DigitalCreativity #ContentCreation #SocialMedia #HongKongBaptistUniversity #StudyinHongKong

Scientific publishing still isn’t a level playing field. A recent Nature column, “How journals can break down barriers for Latin American scientists”, highlights how structural inequalities continue to limit the participation and visibility of researchers from Latin America. (https://lnkd.in/eVdyi-Dp) 🔍 My point of view as an Editor at Springer-Nature and PLOS: Publishing is not only about scientific rigor — limited funding, high publication fees, and unequal collaboration networks keep widening the gap. Journals can help by revising policies on APCs, authorship quotas, and partnerships with regional societies to make access more equitable. This isn’t just about diversity — it’s about fairness and global progress: diverse scientific voices bring new perspectives to complex global challenges. 💡 Why it matters: Opening more space for Latin American researchers means enriching science itself — new contexts, local challenges, and innovative ideas can fuel more inclusive and impactful solutions. If you work in research or academic publishing, this is a timely reminder to reflect and act toward more inclusive systems. #Science #Equity #Research #LatinAmerica #AcademicPublishing #Inclusion

𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 (𝗡𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗲, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) 𝗯𝘆 Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) at 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗔𝗱𝘆𝗮𝗿, 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗶 Research is the cornerstone of societal progress, offering a systematic means of inquiry that fuels innovation, informs policy, and enhances quality of life across sectors such as healthcare, education, and the environment. In developing countries, it plays a crucial role in addressing historical inequities, resource limitations, and social challenges by generating knowledge capital. Central to this process is research methodology, which provides the structured framework necessary to investigate complex phenomena with rigor, credibility, and replicability. A well-defined methodology ensures accurate, meaningful conclusions and empowers researchers to contribute solutions to pressing issues. This ten-day Research Methodology Course is designed to equip social sciences scholars with essential theoretical foundations, practical tools, and analytical skills required to conduct robust and impactful research, ultimately strengthening the research ecosystem and fostering evidence-based decision-making. The important link is here : https://lnkd.in/gkhHUrcA Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗔𝗱𝘆𝗮𝗿, 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗶

𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 (𝗡𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗲, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) 𝗯𝘆 Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) at 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗔𝗱𝘆𝗮𝗿, 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗶 Research is the cornerstone of societal progress, offering a systematic means of inquiry that fuels innovation, informs policy, and enhances quality of life across sectors such as healthcare, education, and the environment. In developing countries, it plays a crucial role in addressing historical inequities, resource limitations, and social challenges by generating knowledge capital. Central to this process is research methodology, which provides the structured framework necessary to investigate complex phenomena with rigor, credibility, and replicability. A well-defined methodology ensures accurate, meaningful conclusions and empowers researchers to contribute solutions to pressing issues. This ten-day Research Methodology Course is designed to equip social sciences scholars with essential theoretical foundations, practical tools, and analytical skills required to conduct robust and impactful research, ultimately strengthening the research ecosystem and fostering evidence-based decision-making.

The #UGC mandated that a #PhD scholar must publish two research papers to submit their synopsis. This requirement was subsequently withdrawn, but the institutions were given the freedom to decide on the prerequisite of publications. Given that accreditation parameters and the need to establish themselves as prestigious #research institutions, almost all institutions continue to mandate two or three papers as a prerequisite for PhD completion. In a way, the UGC acted as a catalyst – it has created a research environment that puts publications first. I’m not going to discuss the pros and cons of this move or the implications of this publication first strategy. Let me, however, talk about the skeleton in the closet. And here are some of my observations: 1.     Many PhD scholars (even #EarlyCareerResearchers) chase #publications. For them publications are the primary end point – not a natural consequence of doing research. 2.     Their awareness of the research ecosystem is a deep concern. 3.     They relied heavily on “illegal platforms” to access info. This was evident when an Indian high court ruled in favour of #Elsevier and #Wiley in banning one such platform. 4.     They use fewer to no tools to #organize their research – no note-taking apps, no reference managers. 5.     They blindly rely on the free versions of #GenAI available, without understanding the pitfalls and limitations. So instead of lamenting about what is happening and why this is happening, we tried to do something that can change this state. What small things that Tholga can do to improve? What can happen if every first-year researcher know things their counterpart knows in a premier institute? #FirstMile was born out of this thought. First Mile walks alongside the first-year researcher and gives them clarity and direction. Where to look for data? How to organize it? How to do literature survey? How to follow people and platforms relevant to their research? How to inculcate the habit of research writing? What tools are available – and how to use them judiciously? And many more. By the end of their first year, through nine themes , and 30+ live and recorded sessions, they will have taken the right first steps in their long research journey. What’s more special is this programme is available in English and #Tamil. The goal is to reach a larger audience for a greater impact. To know more about the programme, visit https://lnkd.in/gKHhkDNR. Please let us know what else can be added to make it stronger, while keeping it to essentials. The introductory webinars on 15 Oct (English) and 16 Oct (Tamil) will outline the programme. If you are interested, don’t forget to register here (links in the comments). Please share this announcement in your circles and help us reach more researchers.

Science isn’t one-size-fits-all 👇 In the Asia Pacific, so many researchers speak the language of discovery, but not always the language of publication. This Takeda Pharmaceuticals funded project shows why good publication practice matters, and why we need to open the doors to all voices across the region. Big thanks to the SciPod team for turning this into a clear, engaging audiobook that people can listen to 👏 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eeKVmbjd Want to turn your research into an audiobook? Let’s explore this together: https://lnkd.in/eg-N5diX #GoodPublicationPractice #ISMPP #ScienceCommunication #AsiaPacificResearch #ResearchVisibility #SciPod