[IRTalk] Making science more accessible - where can the library play a role?

[Ina Smith]

Dear Colleagues

The Conversation (Africa)<https://theconversation.com/africa> is such a thought-provoking open access and popular scholarly publication, with very brief articles on highly current/trendy topics. You can also subscribe (sign-up as a reader)<https://theconversation.com/sign_up> in order to receive alerts. Please encourage your researchers to subscribe, but also to contribute articles to this publication.

A great read Is the article below, and my question: Can libraries play a role in supporting researchers identifying other means of publishing their research? Playing a marketing role, disseminating research in a more digestible way for the general public, tweeting about it? Maybe popular scholarly journals the future. During the 2016 Science Forum South Africa<http://www.sfsa.co.za/> our Minister of Science & Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor, tried to create an event to get citizen scientists on board, which was a huge success! Stellenbosch University also present Science Café's<http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/Events/DispForm.aspx?ID=1517>, during which a restaurant is booked for the evening, public make bookings for the event, and then have the opportunity to engage with academics and researchers on highly stimulating topics, but also ask any questions they might have. Making science more "open" and "friendly" for the public (also a link with "Open Access"). The article:
Academics can change the world - if they stop talking only to their peers

https://theconversation.com/academics-can-change-the-world-if-they-stop-talking-only-to-their-peers-55713

"The overwhelming majority of university academics are not shaping today's public debates. Instead, their work is largely sitting in academic journals that are read almost exclusively by their peers."

Kind regards
Ina

Ina Smith
SciELO Planning Manager
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

LIASA Exco Convener ICT Development (2014-2016)
LIASA HELIG Chair (2014-2016)

Switchboard: +27 12 349 6600
Tel: +27 12 349 6641
Fax: +27 (0) 86 576 9512
Email: ina at assaf.org.za<mailto:ina at assaf.org.za>

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Website: www.assaf.org.za<http://www.assaf.org.za/>

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