MUNICH – EGUsphere, the innovative Open Access repository created by the European Geosciences Union and its publishing partner Copernicus, is growing! For the first time authors will be able to upload preprints to the online resource, taking advantage of EGU’s pioneering public peer-review process, whilst preparing their papers for future release. This move to consolidate EGU’s publications resources emphasises the Union’s commitment to Open Access Publishing and provides access to everyone who would like to engage with cutting edge geosciences research at all stages of the publications process.

EGUsphere is an online platform designed to increase visibility, boost discussion and promote collaboration within the Earth, planetary and space science community. It serves as a central repository for all EGU publications, as well as the abstracts and presentations from the Union’s various scientific meetings. This centralised organisation is combined with the innovative, Open Access and transparent review process that EGU has pioneered, to provide an interactive and accessible space for leading research in the geosciences.

“The addition of preprints to EGUsphere is an exciting development for the Earth, planetary and space science community and the culmination of a long road for us at EGU,” says EGU Vice-President Alberto Montanari, who pioneered the initiative. “I hope researchers around the globe will take advantage of this new format to openly present and discuss their research. EGUsphere is an important step forward towards more accessible, and greener, networking.”

Authors will be able to submit a preprint in one of two ways; either aimed at publication in one of EGU’s 19 scientific journals, or not (immediately) targeting journal publication. If a preprint is submitted intending to be published in an EGU journal it is shepherded through the publication process, from the initial upload stage, by the Editors of the journal selected. If a preprint is uploaded, but is not immediately intended to undergo full peer review for an EGU journal, it is assigned to a preprint moderator for assessment, before being added to EGUsphere where it can be commented on by both the community and by authors. All initial preprint submissions are free, with processing charges being applied later if the paper is taken through to final publication in one of EGU’s journals. To encourage collaboration with other digital geoscience repositories, EGUsphere also accepts preprints for potential journal publication from non-EGU preprint servers, as long as they have been assigned a DOI.

To ensure scientific standards, all preprints not submitted specifically to a journal for immediate publication will be screened by EGUsphere’s moderators. The important role of EGUsphere preprint moderators is fulfilled by Early Career Scientists, thus bringing extra value to this large and dynamic community in the Union. “Often we hear from Early Career Scientists that there is a barrier to making the step from author, to editor, to executive editor, which can come from a lack of clear avenues,” said Susanne Buiter, EGUsphere coordinator. “By recruiting Early Career Scientists to be EGUsphere moderators we saw an opportunity to bridge that gap of experience and provide support to researchers wanting to learn more about these new roles.”

“This addition of preprints to EGUsphere really emphasises EGU’s commitment to disseminating scientific research” added EGU Publications Committee Chair, Barbara Ervens. “Building on EGU’s 20 years of experience in open access publishing and public peer review, we are very excited to see the increasing diversity of options to share research that will be discussed as a result of this new initiative.”

Preprints at EGUsphere join the permanent archives of abstracts and presentations uploaded as display materials to the annual General Assembly and other meetings, as well as linking and expanding the online libraries of EGU’s 19 highly ranked journals, all of which are available Open Access.

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is Europe’s premier geosciences union, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the Earth, planetary, and space sciences for the benefit of humanity, worldwide. It is a non-profit interdisciplinary learned association of scientists founded in 2002 with headquarters in Munich, Germany. The EGU publishes a number of diverse scientific journals, which use an innovative open access format, and organises a number of topical meetings, and education and outreach activities. Its annual General Assembly is the largest and most prominent European geosciences event, attracting over 14,000 scientists from all over the world. The meeting’s sessions cover a wide range of topics, including volcanology, planetary exploration, the Earth’s internal structure and atmosphere, climate, energy, and resources. The EGU General Assembly 2022 is taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 23-27 May 2022. For information and press registration, please click here, or follow the EGU on Twitter and Facebook.

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• EGUsphere website