Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Text (EDIT) Publication Grant

A Utrecht University Library Publishing Grant to promote Equity and Global Collaboration in Research

Abstract

The objective of this poster is to present a new and unique upcoming initiative by the Utrecht University  library,  the EDIT (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Text) Publication Grant, bringing together OS values such as equity, collaboration, and bibliodiversity in the publishing ecosystem.

The geographic, linguistic, and economic barriers to access to research have proven to be pervasive, affecting both the publication process and access to research outputs. The current research landscape privileges established over early career researchers, larger institutions and industries over smaller ones, the needs of the global North over those of the global South, and well-funded areas of research over equally important, but less well-resourced areas In response, UNESCO’s recommendation on Open Science emphasizes the need to not only ensure that scientific knowledge is accessible but also that “the production of that knowledge itself is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.”[2] One way to promote a fair redistribution of both funding and scientific attention is increased collaboration between researchers from the global North and the global South. In practice, however, such collaborations are often hindered by other inequalities, such as the (over)emphasis on English as a scientific lingua franca[3] and the prioritisation of journal articles over other output types that are more accessible or useful to the communities directly affected by the research.

Acknowledging the critical role of libraries in knowledge equity, we at the UU library have proposed a new publishing grant that will reward best practices in research. We aim to identify publication projects that demonstrate a deliberate commitment to Open Science (OS) practices, like openness and global collaboration. The grant will award a broad spectrum of publishing services to the selected projects, allowing them to publish in diverse languages and accessible modes and formats. We hope to have a twofold impact: first, shifting emphasis from traditional metrics to best practices in knowledge production; and second, promoting greater accessibility and diversity with regards to underserved groups, languages and output types. In the long term, we also hope to establish measurable alternative metrics that will guide a formal reshaping of rewards and recognition.

This presentation will highlight the underlying philosophy of the grant, alongside the project's desired outcomes, and metrics for evaluation. In designing the grant, we also surveyed UU researchers over their publication preferences, challenges, and views on global collaboration, receiving over 60 insightful responses. The key findings of this survey will also be discussed, highlighting how they inform the grant’s design, also in line with Utrecht University’s ongoing efforts and future vision towards equitable publishing.

Finally, the aim of this poster is as much for us to be informed as to inform our audience: while we hope that some of the ideas presented will be informative and inspiring for other universities, we also welcome feedback from the community before the rollout of the grant early next year.