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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">Thank you Christian for your inputs and offer of help in
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">articulate this issue.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;"> Greatly appreciated. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;"></span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">I think it is an unintentional mistake and I am very grateful that ICA colleagues have listened to my concerns. Though I don’t know any details, I understand from Anthony’s mail last week that ICA is not proceeding
with</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">vendor GIS press for this publication. I hope ICA will have open and transparent discussions based on clear policy frameworks</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">in selecting whichever new book publisher and have clear guidelines in the future.</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">It is the duty of the Scientific Organisations to have clear policies and guidelines on selecting publishers , have open and transparent</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">decision
making , ensure free and open discussions with the community etc. If so, this clear conflict of interest issue would not have happened in the first place. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">My concern is with the </span><font face="Helvetica Neue" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">lack
of openness in decision making process</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><font face="Helvetica Neue" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">of selecting
publishers for </span></font><font face="Helvetica Neue" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">book projects etc</span></font><font face="Helvetica Neue" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">.</span></font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;"> I
have waited over an year to get even any small</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">information on this .</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">I think it is important to give more time to get more ideas/inputs from the community on how we can rectify this problem for the future. I have put three suggestions . There may be more ideas.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">So you and other colleagues are welcome to bring more ideas/inputs.</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">Feel free to create a shared document with your text/inputs . We can aim to give three months (Oct 2018) to help refine ideas , get inputs from all on what are the best practices for all Scientific associations
to help us draft the Open Letter. We need to learn from this and not keep repeating these mistakes in the future. Hence these open discussions are aimed at learning and sharing ideas for good practices for all Scientific associations /Organisations in the
future.</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">Best wishes,</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt;">Suchith</span></p>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> Christian Willmes <c.willmes@uni-koeln.de><br>
<b>Sent:</b> 25 July 2018 07:31<br>
<b>To:</b> Suchith Anand; geoforall@lists.osgeo.org; OSGeo Discussions<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Geo4All] Draft of Open Letter on the importance to protecting independent peer review frameworks for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations</font>
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<p>Dear Suchith,<br>
<br>
I agree with you on the matter, that publishing a book in context of United Nations initiative by esri is bad. I would also support to offiicialy articulate this somehow.
<br>
But the case you address was solved. As I understand, esri is no longer considered as the publisher for the book?<br>
I also think, that there might be a big conflict of interest, if esri publishes a UN SDG book. But intil that is proven by some wrong doing from esri during the editing and publication process, we are talking not about facts. And as far as I know they didn't
published an UN related book yet? Maybe ICA and Prof. Kraak understood this problem, after you raised your concerns about this issue last year. So, thank you very much for your caring about this issue a year ago, and as it seems you already won the battle!<br>
<br>
What I see now, is at most a policy issue within ICA, that they may need to open up the process for deciding for a publisher of a book project, but I am not even sure about that, because they seem to have already a policy for that case in place?<br>
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Best regards,<br>
Christian<br>
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<div class="x_moz-cite-prefix">Am 24.07.2018 um 22:51 schrieb Suchith Anand:<br>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">Dear Christian,</span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">Thank you for you mail and inputs. This letter is draft and I welcome inputs from you and everyone to refine it.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I fully agree with you that we just need more transparency in science and also in the whole process of editing/reviewing and publishing a book.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I am happy to make the edits/changes needed that you suggested and I will request your help on this. I have provided all information that I have on this book project that I am aware of. I just do not know the details
(what was the process of selecting the publisher, criteria etc).</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">If you are able to get details on this and share with the community, it will be very helpful. I did my best to get more information on the publisher decision process etc . For</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">some strange</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">reason, there was no openness in the whole process which is the main concern. So if there is no openness and transparency even in this then how do you think we can expect transparency in editing/reviewing
process. I respectfully disagree with you that any GIS vendor if they are also running their</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">publication press, then they have no conflict of interest.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt"> </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">It is the duty of scientific association to ensure there is transparency in science. Even ICA’s publication policy for conference proceedings</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">does not mention any GIS vendor press . Why? Please see</span></p>
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<a href="https://icaci.org/ica-publications-and-publication-policy-first-publication-volume-is-online/" id="LPlnk275245" class="x_OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">https://icaci.org/ica-publications-and-publication-policy-first-publication-volume-is-online/</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">All scholarly publications (edited books, journals, conference proceedings) should follow similar guidelines.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">So I am very confused why and how a GIS vendor press was planned for this community book project.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I highlighted the global problem of increase in low quality submissions</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">and it is not an ICA problem or any Vendor problem or any single organisation problem.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt"> </span><span style="text-decoration:underline; color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">Hence it is important that we are all very vigilant and take steps to protect the integrity of independent peer review frameworks</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations. If any</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">Scientific Associations themselves are not open and transparent in their decision making, then how can they</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">ensure independent peer review frameworks</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">for Scholarly publications!</span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I want to make it clear that I am not an author or coauthor on any articles submitted to this book project. So I do not have any personal conflict of interest in this. GeoForAll colleagues contributed for this
book project in good faith. I did work to get GeoForAll colleagues to support and contribute for this book project. So I have a moral responsibility to make sure they are provided as much information and updates on this.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I have no issue if the GIS vendor publication press for this community book was selected by an open, transparent process.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I want us to look at the future not focus on mistakes made in past . Some mistakes have been made and I understand that this is corrected. We are all human , so we all make mistakes So let us not focus on past
mistakes but look at ideas on how we can strengthen the independent peer review frameworks for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations in the future.</span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I have worked with many properitary</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">GIS vendors and I have great respect for all of them and always welcomed them.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I have raised my concern with some</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">open source vendors also if I find any thing that undermines openness.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt"> </span><span style="text-decoration:underline; color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">I am the view that both open and properitary systems have an important place and need to work together . We are all part of a big ecosystem all working for Geo. I believe in open discussions to help
find better understanding. For me, Openness means being open to different perspectives ,ideas, viewpoints, cultures and learning and improving to be a better human every day...</span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">Best wishes,</span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt">Suchith</span></p>
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<div id="x_divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> GeoForAll
<a class="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E OWAAutoLink" href="mailto:geoforall-bounces@lists.osgeo.org" id="LPlnk217550" previewremoved="true">
<geoforall-bounces@lists.osgeo.org></a> on behalf of Christian Willmes <a class="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E OWAAutoLink" href="mailto:c.willmes@uni-koeln.de" id="LPlnk53743" previewremoved="true">
<c.willmes@uni-koeln.de></a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> 24 July 2018 17:43<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="x_moz-txt-link-abbreviated OWAAutoLink" href="mailto:geoforall@lists.osgeo.org" id="LPlnk724032" previewremoved="true">
geoforall@lists.osgeo.org</a>; OSGeo Discussions<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Geo4All] Draft of Open Letter on the importance to protecting independent peer review frameworks for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations</font>
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<p>Dear Suchith,<br>
<br>
I understand your point, and I also support your views on this, but this is from my perspective a too personal/particular issue, as to have it as an "OSGeo open letter". Also, because this is more of an ICA and not so much an OSGeo issue, I think.
<br>
<br>
First, I would keep it more general. You address a particular issue (UN SDG book published by esri), and also some personal background (this should not matter to the addressed subject). I would recommend you keep it from being personal and denouncing proprietary
GIS vendors. If a company plays by the rules of science, there is nothing wrong about that company publishing a scientific book. I.e. almost all book publishers are commercial companies with interests somehow and somewhere.<br>
<br>
You need to “attack” scientific “wrong doing” by that particular company in conducting the editing and publication of that book. Publishing books if done correctly is not wrong, even by a vendor with vested interests. But if you witness, for example, that submissions
using open source GIS solutions are disadvantaged against the submissions using products of the proprietary GIS vendor publishing the book, that would be the point to raise and attack.<br>
<br>
Second, better write about how it should be done to avoid this negative “Fake Science” things from happening. Here the idea of Open Science and Reproducible Science is key, i.e. the most openness and transparency possible. We just need more transparency in
science and also in the whole process of editing/reviewing and publishing a book. And this is where OSGeo can contribute. Basically, real reproducible and open science is not possible without open source software. If you can’t see how something is implemented,
you can not really reproduce the results.<br>
<br>
Third, if you accuse someone of “Fake Science” please make sure to offer evidence about this particular misconduct. If you fail to do so, you are creating “fake news” yourself. Sorry, no offense at you personally, but I think its not a good idea to publish
this letter in OSGeo's or GeoForAll's name. At least not with these accusations or even notion of "Fake Science" in it.<br>
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<p><br>
</p>
<p>To be clear, I share your view that it is bad, if esri would publish a book written by scientists in the context of a United Nations initiative to maybe only advertise its own product, but until any misconduct is proven, you can't accuse esri or ICA of "Fake
Science".</p>
<p><br>
Best regards,<br>
Christian<br>
</p>
<br>
<div class="x_x_moz-cite-prefix">Am 24.07.2018 um 11:53 schrieb Suchith Anand:<br>
</div>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Dear
</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">colleagues</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">,</span></span><br>
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<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; line-height:normal"><span style=""><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I have prepared a draft letter with my ideas/suggestions </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">.I
am just a volunteer and I feel sad that</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">that I have to raise this issue through an open letter.</span><font face="Helvetica
Neue"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
But if I remain silent on this , I will be indirectly supporting the degrading of </span></font><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> independent peer review frameworks for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations.</span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">It is the fundamental duty of all Officers of Scientific Associations/Organisations</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">to always take steps to </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">guard and protect independent peer review frameworks</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations. I am hopeful and confident that that they all will do this for the future.</span><br>
</p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I am not a native English speaker, so please help refine this</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">letter correctly. I want us to look at the future not focus on mistakes made in past . Some mistakes have been made and I understand that this is corrected. We are
all human , so we all make mistakes</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">. So let us not focus on past mistakes but look at ideas on how we can strengthen the independent peer review frameworks</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations in the future.</span></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The International Cartographic Association (ICA) is my organisation for which</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I have volunteered for the last 15 years and continuing . I have great respect for everyone in this great global community . The SDG book is a community effort (not
any individual’s book project) . I have requested from the start (as soon as I came to know) for openness and transparency in decision making for selecting the publisher. esp. as this book is on UN SDG . I understand that ICA has now corrected the mistake
. Everyone makes mistakes and it takes courage to acknowledge and correct the mistakes .Compassion and forgiveness are important values .</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I am very grateful that ICA has listened to my concerns and rectified this . So I don’t have any issues with ICA or any colleagues in ICA. We might have difference
in opinions on some issues and having free and open discussions is in my humble opinion the best way to learn each others perspectives and find best solutions to move forward.</span></p>
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<u><br>
</u></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Please send any updates/modifications needed to the draft by 30th July 2018. I am on family holidays ( with no internet ) in first week of August, so I will aim to send this
before I go on holidays.</span><br>
</p>
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</span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">===========================================</span></p>
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<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Draft of Open Letter on the importance to protecting independent peer review frameworks</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span></b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations</span></b></span></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Scholarly publications (edited books, journals etc) from scientific associations</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">/</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">organisations
has</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">credibility and reputation because of strong independent peer review frameworks </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">.
We are very fortunate in the Geospatial domain to have many reputed Scientific Associations and organisations (ICA, IGU, ISPRS, IEEE-GRSS, IAG etc) who have over many decades provided strong leadership in advancement of geo science.</span></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">In times of fake news, science is usually one of those areas that can give us orientation and we can rely on.</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Independent peer review frameworks</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">for Scholarly publications is among the foundations of good science. However, this is</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">obviously at risk now.
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">If a professional association takes</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">agrees to publish scholarly publications (edited books etc)</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">through a GIS vendor’s press then there is potential issues with independent peer review and ensuring scientific quality. It is only natural that any GIS vendor publication
press to have vested interests in promoting their products and</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">agenda. It also makes it easy for the vendor to get endorsement for their</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">products from scientific and professional organisations using this route. </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Independent
peer review is the fundamental aspect of science and we need to ensure all steps to protect this.</span></span></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">We are also now seeing a very disturbing trend with</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">some vendors even starting to trademark “ science” for marketing/sales of their</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">products and
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">“science” is being misused for vendor marketing/sales! . I have raised this issue through an open letter [1] .</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Science is not a commodity to be marketed or sold by any vendor owners! I am very sad and disappointed to see this degrading of science happening. Scientific organisations
should not endorse any specific vendor products etc as “Science” and take strong moral stand against</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">marketing of products as “Science’ by any vendor owners!</span></p>
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<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I am a volunteer for the ICA for the last 15 years and always done my best in my small way to support ICA . Around one year back, i</span><i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">n
the light of the </span></i><a href="http://mapyear.org/" id="LPlnk430064" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="color:#e4af0a"><i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">International Map
Year (IMY)</span></i></span></a><i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">, the
</span></i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The International Cartographic Association (ICA) started an excellent initiative
</span><i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">for</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">highlighting the value of cartography by “mapping” the
</span></i><a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/" id="LPlnk307766" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="color:#e4af0a"><i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">UN sustainable development
goals</span></i></span></a><i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">.</span></i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> Building upon this, The ICA community started
work on a book on UN SDG Mapping</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">building upon the posters of the various commissions on this [2]. This is a great community initiative developed with inputs from all colleagues in commissions of
the ICA. The Open Source Geospatial Commission colleagues also contributed our inputs for this. When the book project was announced, I did my best to contact colleagues to contribute to this in good faith. I didn’t have the faintest idea that it was being
planned to be published through a properitary GIS vendor publication press! </span>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">As soon as I came to know about this, I did contact Menno -Jan with my concerns and requested him that as this is a community book project to please allow open discussions
and keep the community updated [3] . I was very surprised that there was no open and transparent discussions on selecting the book publisher was done.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">From an email from Anthony Robinson on 16th July 2018, I understand now that ICA is not proceeding with the vendor GIS publication press (Esri press)</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">for the SDG book and I welcome this. But it is</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">important</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">we need to be learn lessons from this mistake and not repeat this in future</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">. </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">We
are all humans and make mistakes.</span></span></p>
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<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I fully respect the right of individuals publishing their personal work [1] in any publication house that they wish. But as officers of Scientific Organisations, esp. in
times of some vendor owners doing marketing/sales on “Science” , I request all colleagues to be careful not to do anything that will undermine independent peer review process.</span></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I am suggesting some initial ideas that we all can take as a community to help reduce this problem in the future</span></p>
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</p>
<ul style="margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px">
<li><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">All Scientific </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Associations and organisations should </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">ensure
that there is full open and transparent discussions allowed before choosing any publishers of scholarly publications (Edited Books etc). </span></span><br>
</li></ul>
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<br>
</p>
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</p>
<ul style="margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px">
<li><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">It is important that GIS scientific associations/organisations take strong moral stand against taking sponsorship/royalty etc
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">for scholarly publications from all GIS vendors . Independent peer review system is the fundamental aspect of science. So I am humbly requesting all Scientific organisations
to</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">not use
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">any GIS vendor controlled press for publishing scholarly outputs (edited books etc).</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">GIS scientific organisations should not</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">tak</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">e</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
any sponsorship or royalty for scholarly publications (</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">books, journals etc) from any GIS vendors . If a scientific association takes</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">agrees to publish scholarly publications (edited books etc)</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
through the vendor’s press then there is potential issues with independent peer review and ensuring scientific quality. It is only natural that any GIS vendor publication press to have vested interests in promoting their products and agenda. It also makes
it easy for the vendor to get endorsement for their products from scientific and professional organisations using this route. </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Independent peer review is the fundamental aspect of
science and we need to ensure all steps to protect this.</span></span><br>
</li></ul>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
</p>
<ul style="margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px">
<li><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Officers of Scientific Organisations and Editors of all GIS journals </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">declare
any conflict of interest with any vendors (funding/sponsorship/royalties etc received from any GIS vendors currently or in the past) to ensure transparency and good practices.They should not support any vendors interest directly or indirectly. Scientific
organisations should not endorse any specific vendor products etc as “Science” and take strong moral stand against marketing of products as “Science’ by any vendor owners!</span><br>
</li></ul>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I am concerned with the wider degradation of science and education happening in different sectors. This is a moral issue and needs all organisations globally in science and
education working together.</span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; line-height:normal; min-height:14px">
<span style=""><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">It is the fundamental </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">duty of all </span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Officers
of Scientific Organisations</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">
</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">to guard and protect independent peer review frameworks</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">
</span><font face="Helvetica Neue"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations. I am hopeful and confident that that they will do this for the future.</span></font><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Best wishes,</span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69)">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Suchith</span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(228,175,10)">
<span style="color:#454545">[1] <a href="https://www.rd-alliance.org/group/geospatial-ig/post/open-letter-importance-scientific-freedom-and-public-good" id="LPlnk527628" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true">
<span style="color:rgb(228,175,10)">https://www.rd-alliance.org/group/geospatial-ig/post/open-letter-importance-scientific-freedom-and-public-good</span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(228,175,10)">
<span style="color:#454545">[2] <a class="x_x_moz-txt-link-freetext x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://" id="LPlnk169053" previewremoved="true">
https://</a><a href="http://icaci.org/maps-and-sustainable-development-goals/" id="LPlnk925436" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><span style="color:#e4af0a">icaci.org/maps-and-sustainable-development-goals/</span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(228,175,10)">
<span style="color:#454545">[3] <a href="https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/2017-June/003790.html" id="LPlnk76817" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true">
<span style="color:rgb(228,175,10)">https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/2017-June/003790.html</span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(228,175,10)">
<span style="color:#454545">[4] <a href="https://esripress.esri.com/display/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&websiteID=254&moduleID=0" id="LPlnk619170" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true">
<span style="color:#e4af0a">https://esripress.esri.com/display/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&websiteID=254&moduleID=0</span></a> </span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0px; margin-left:0px; font-size:12px; line-height:normal; font-family:"Helvetica Neue"; color:rgb(69,69,69); min-height:14px">
<br>
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<pre class="x_x_moz-signature" cols="72">--
Dr. Christian Willmes
AG GIS & Fernerkundung | GIS & RS Group
Geographisches Institut | Institute of Geography
Universität zu Köln | University of Cologne
Tel.: +49 (0)221 470 6234
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<pre class="x_moz-signature" cols="72">--
Christian Willmes
AG GIS & Fernerkundung | GIS & RS Group
Geographisches Institut | Institute of Geography
Universität zu Köln | University of Cologne
Tel.: +49 (0)221 470 6234
<a class="x_moz-txt-link-freetext OWAAutoLink" href="http://www.geographie.uni-koeln.de/14126.html" id="LPlnk660358" previewremoved="true">http://www.geographie.uni-koeln.de/14126.html</a>
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