[OSGeo-Discuss] [Geo4All] Draft of Open Letter on the importance to protecting independent peer review frameworks for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations
Christian Willmes
c.willmes at uni-koeln.de
Tue Jul 24 09:43:21 PDT 2018
Dear Suchith,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
Best regards,
Christian
Am 24.07.2018 um 11:53 schrieb Suchith Anand:
>
> Dear colleagues,
>
>
>
> I have prepared a draft letter with my ideas/suggestions .I am just a
> volunteer and I feel sad thatthat I have to raise this issue through
> an open letter. But if I remain silent on this , I will be indirectly
> supporting the degrading of independent peer review frameworks for
> Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations.
>
>
> It is the fundamental duty of all Officers of Scientific
> Associations/Organisationsto always take steps to guard and protect
> independent peer review frameworksfor Scholarly publications of
> Scientific Associations. I am hopeful and confident that that they
> all will do this for the future.
>
>
> I am not a native English speaker, so please help refine thisletter
> 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. So let us not
> focus on past mistakes but look at ideas on how we can strengthen the
> independent peer review frameworksfor Scholarly publications of
> Scientific Associations in the future.
>
>
> The International Cartographic Association (ICA) is my organisation
> for whichI 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 .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.
>
> _
> _
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> ===========================================
>
>
>
> *Draft of Open Letter on the importance to protecting independent peer
> review frameworks**for Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations*
>
>
> Scholarly publications (edited books, journals etc) from scientific
> associations/organisations hascredibility and reputation because of
> strong independent peer review frameworks . 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.
>
>
> In times of fake news, science is usually one of those areas that can
> give us orientation and we can rely on.Independent peer review
> frameworksfor Scholarly publications is among the foundations of good
> science. However, this isobviously at risk now. If a professional
> association takesagrees to publish scholarly publications (edited
> books etc)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 andagenda. It also makes it easy
> for the vendor to get endorsement for theirproducts from scientific
> and professional organisations using this route. Independent peer
> review is the fundamental aspect of science and we need to ensure all
> steps to protect this.
>
>
> We are also now seeing a very disturbing trend withsome vendors even
> starting to trademark “ science” for marketing/sales of theirproducts
> and “science” is being misused for vendor marketing/sales! . I have
> raised this issue through an open letter [1] .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 againstmarketing
> of products as “Science’ by any vendor owners!
>
>
>
> 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/n the
> light of the //International Map Year (IMY)/ <http://mapyear.org/>/,
> the /The International Cartographic Association (ICA) started an
> excellent initiative /forhighlighting the value of cartography by
> “mapping” the //UN sustainable development goals/
> <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/>/./Building upon this, The ICA
> community started work on a book on UN SDG Mappingbuilding 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! 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.
>
>
> 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)for the SDG book and I welcome this. But it isimportantwe
> need to be learn lessons from this mistake and not repeat this in
> future. We are all humans and make mistakes.
>
>
> 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.
>
>
> I am suggesting some initial ideas that we all can take as a community
> to help reduce this problem in the future
>
>
>
> * All Scientific Associations and organisations should ensure that
> there is full open and transparent discussions allowed before
> choosing any publishers of scholarly publications (Edited Books etc).
>
>
> * It is important that GIS scientific associations/organisations
> take strong moral stand against taking sponsorship/royalty etc 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 tonot use any GIS vendor
> controlled press for publishing scholarly outputs (edited books
> etc).GIS scientific organisations should nottakeany sponsorship or
> royalty for scholarly publications (books, journals etc) from any
> GIS vendors . If a scientific association takesagrees to publish
> scholarly publications (edited books etc) 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. Independent peer
> review is the fundamental aspect of science and we need to ensure
> all steps to protect this.
>
>
> * Officers of Scientific Organisations and Editors of all GIS
> journals 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!
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> It is the fundamental duty of all Officers of Scientific
> Organisationsto guard and protect independent peer review
> frameworksfor Scholarly publications of Scientific Associations. I am
> hopeful and confident that that they will do this for the future.
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
> Suchith
>
>
>
> [1]
> https://www.rd-alliance.org/group/geospatial-ig/post/open-letter-importance-scientific-freedom-and-public-good
>
> [2] https://icaci.org/maps-and-sustainable-development-goals/
> <http://icaci.org/maps-and-sustainable-development-goals/>
>
> [3] https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/2017-June/003790.html
>
> [4]
> https://esripress.esri.com/display/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&websiteID=254&moduleID=0
>
>
>
>
> This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee
> and may contain confidential information. If you have received this
> message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and
> attachment.
>
> Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not
> necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email
> communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored
> where permitted by law.
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GeoForAll mailing list
> GeoForAll at lists.osgeo.org
> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/geoforall
--
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
http://www.geographie.uni-koeln.de/14126.html
http://www.sfb806.de
http://crc806db.uni-koeln.de
http://publons.com/a/1316706/
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5566-6542
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/discuss/attachments/20180724/eca9df9f/attachment.html>
More information about the Discuss
mailing list