Stop Predatory Practices
About
Predatory journals, publishers and conferences are a pressing problem for the entire academic community. Predatory practices can manifest in poor quality or incredibly fast peer review, imitation of reputable publishers, falsification of editorial boards, constant spamming of invitations to attend profit motivated conferences or to publish in similar journals, inclusion of false or fabricated citation indicators, and much more.
Our initiative aims at raising awareness of predatory practices across the research community. We will first identified the danger that predatory practices pose to the scientific community using discussions with the key stakeholders. From this, we will develop ready-to-go teaching module for training on predatory practices. Specific modules will be designed for Master's and PhD students, and both early-stage and senior researchers.
The initiative also includes popularising awareness of predatory practices across the Czech scientific community and beyond. We will create videos for TikTok and Instagram, presenting the issue of predatory practices in interactive and innovative form. A natural diffusion will be supported by a campaign on social networks (as mentioned above) and a module presentation on the web (the project website will serve as a repository for the outcomes created in this project). The project and its outcomes will also be discussed and presented to the professional community.
Our initiative is currently being realised with three months support of the IAP Grants Programme on Increasing Awareness of Predatory Academic Practices. After the end of the project it will be possible to use the created teaching module (it will be available on the project website) and the created videos/posts will still be available on social media.
The initiative is being undertaken in collaboration with the Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Library of the Academy of Sciences, as well as Library of the Czech University of Life Science and members of the Information Education and Information Literacy Working Group (Assoc. of Libraries of Czech Universities).
News
Read more about our initiative in the journal Informace (KNAV)
Read more about our initiative in the journal "Informace" issued by Library of the Czech Academy of Science. In the article, Tereza reflects on the foundation of the initiative, the outputs created and the future of the initiative. Avalible only in Czech.
Presentation at Iatul conference in miami
In July 2022, Kristýna P. represented our initiative at The 42nd International Association of University Libraries (IATUL) Annual Conference 2022 in Miami. Kristýna P. presented a paper entitled "Tools against predators? Transparency, education, and the courage to speak up". It will soon be available in the conference proceedings.
Presentation at European Academies' Science Advisory Council
On June 10th 2022, Tereza had the opportunity to present the results of our project at the EASAC Council Meeting in Liblice Castle.
Thanks to the EASAC Council for the invitation!
Presentation at the Seminar for CAS Libraries
On May 24th 2022, Tereza presented our initiative at the Seminar for Libraries and Scientific Information Centres of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Seminář pro knihovny a SVI ústavů AV ČR 2022). We presented information about the background of our initiative, about the teaching module and also about how librarians from all over the Czech Republic can use this module.
Thanks to the organizers for the invitation!
Presentation at National Seminar on Information Education (NASIV)
On May 24th 2022, Tereza participated in the X. National Seminar of Information Education (Národní Seminář Informačního Vzdělávání, NASIV) at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. At the lecture she presented information about the background of our initiative, about the teaching module and also about how librarians from all over the Czech Republic can use this module. We also talked about the link between our project and high school students as part of the "Otevřená věda" internship.
Thanks to the NASIV organizers for the invitation!
IAP report 'Combatting Predatory Academic Journals and Conferences'
Combatting Predatory Academic Journals and Conferences repor was prepared by a global network InterAcademy Partnership (IAP). As is stated in the summary report, p. 5: "the primary objective of the study was to identify practicable and effective interventions that can curb and help combat the concerning rise in predatory journals and conferences, and provide recommendations to key stakeholder communities to this effect. The Working Group has drawn evidence from a unique survey of academicians and researchers from all over the world; gained insights and perspectives from dialogues with global, regional and national practitioners from key stakeholder communities; and conducted an extensive literature review. An important outcome of these activities has been a better understanding of what is meant by predatory journals and conferences; the extent to which they have pervaded the global research community; and what can be done to combat them. The recommendations in this report are the views of the Working Group and not necessarily of IAP."
Report from the discussion in the Czech Republic
The report summarises the discussion over predatory practices from the perspective of key stakeholders in the Czech Republic. Goal of the discussion was to identify the needs of the scientific community in order to help shape a teaching module on predatory academic practices.
>> LINK TO THE REPORT FROM DISCUSSION ABOUT PREDATORY PRACITCES IN CZECH REPUBLIC <<
Join the discussion on predatory practices
Join discussion focusing on the issue of predatory journals and conferences, and share your perspective with us.
What is your experience with predatory practices?
What are the current topics that concern you most in this area?
Which areas of predatory publishing are not sufficiently covered in terms of information education for early career scientists?
What should be given more attention in relation to predatory practices?
We will address these and other issues together and join forces to fight predators!
The discussion will be conducted in the Czech language.
Follow us on social media
@tersi_science
@Open_Scientist
Profiles created by the pricipal investigator - Tereza popularizes topics related to open science. Several posts were created specifically for the Stop Predatory Practices initiative.
Profiles created by two high school students from the "Otevřená věda" internship of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Several posts were created specifically for the Stop Predatory Practices initiative.