Abstract
IN the timely leading article in NATURE of May 6 on the cost of scientific publications a note is struck which goes deep to the heart of many scientific workers—editors, secretaries, and members of councils on one hand, struggling to make inadequate funds meet the greatly increased expenses, and on the other the young investigators whose papers on the results of research are being held up by the impossibility of paying for publication. It is difficult to see the remedy at the moment. Most of us will, I think, agree with you that increased subscriptions to the publishing societies, on any adequate scale, would be a hardship to many, and probably defeat the end in view by choking off members. My experience as an officer of the British Association and of several scientific societies has shown me that it is difficult enough for our younger scientific workers, such as the demonstrator class at the universities, to afford the necessary expense of joining such societies and attending the meetings. Recognising the great pleasure and advantage that one enjoyed in seeing and hearing the senior men in the subject at the first scientific meetings one attended (British Association and Linnean Society), it would be deplorable that anything should be done to render it still more difficult than it is for the younger men of to-day to attend and take part in such gatherings.
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HERDMAN, W. The Cost of Scientific Publications. Nature 105, 326 (1920). https://doi.org/10.1038/105326a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/105326a0
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