The Publication of Research The Publication of Research Information: Does Astronomy’s Information: Does Astronomy’s

Present Portend a More General Present Portend a More General Future?Future?

Michael J. Kurtz

Harvard-Smithsonian Center

for Astrophysics

The Current StateThe Current State

• 10,000 professional astronomers10,000 professional astronomers

• $6,000,000,000 yearly budget$6,000,000,000 yearly budget

• ($600,000 per astronomer-year)($600,000 per astronomer-year)

• 33½ Large Main Journals½ Large Main Journals

• + ~5 Smaller+ ~5 Smaller High Quality High Quality

• ~8000 High Quality Papers/year~8000 High Quality Papers/year

• ($750,000 per paper)($750,000 per paper)

The Current State – AlsoThe Current State – Also• High Quality Articles from Physics and High Quality Articles from Physics and

Planetary SciencePlanetary Science

• Several Dozen 2Several Dozen 2ndnd tier journals tier journals

• Many Conference ProceedingsMany Conference Proceedings

• Many Abstract BooksMany Abstract Books

• 49,000 total papers/year49,000 total papers/year

• 17,000 refereed in some manner17,000 refereed in some manner

Besides the JournalsBesides the Journals

• ADSADS

• CDSCDS

• Data Archives (Virtual Observatory)Data Archives (Virtual Observatory)

• arXivarXiv

AstronomerAstronomer

CDSCDS ADSADS

Data CentersData Centers JournalsJournals arXivarXiv

Data LinksData LinksData LinksData Links

A Quick Tour of ADSA Quick Tour of ADS

• 11stst Find all papers in refereed journals by Find all papers in refereed journals by me which have the word “halo” in the titleme which have the word “halo” in the title

• 22ndnd Get the citing papers for one of these Get the citing papers for one of these paperspapers

• 33rdrd Notice the equivalence of arXiv eprints Notice the equivalence of arXiv eprints and journal articles in the ADS systemand journal articles in the ADS system

ADS Tour - Part TwoADS Tour - Part Two

• 11stst Use combined CDS-ADS search to get Use combined CDS-ADS search to get papers concerning the x-ray properties of papers concerning the x-ray properties of the Cluster of Galaxies Abell 754 which the Cluster of Galaxies Abell 754 which have Data Links, sort by citationshave Data Links, sort by citations

• 22ndnd Notice that all the most cited papers Notice that all the most cited papers concern older experimentsconcern older experiments

ADSTour – Part TwoADSTour – Part TwoContinuedContinued

• 33rdrd Use data mining techniques to discover Use data mining techniques to discover what papers are currently being read by what papers are currently being read by people who read the 79 papers on Abell people who read the 79 papers on Abell 754 x-ray properties with Data Links754 x-ray properties with Data Links

• 44thth Notice that these most popular papers Notice that these most popular papers have Data Links to the most current data have Data Links to the most current data sets on the x-ray properties of clusters of sets on the x-ray properties of clusters of galaxiesgalaxies

The Publishers Nightmare?The Publishers Nightmare?

• myADS-arXiv is a fully customized to each myADS-arXiv is a fully customized to each user, open access virtual journal which user, open access virtual journal which includes nearly every important paper in includes nearly every important paper in Physics and Astronomy about four months Physics and Astronomy about four months before it is available from the journal.before it is available from the journal.

The Effect of the arXivThe Effect of the arXiv

• What is the readership pattern for articles What is the readership pattern for articles in the arXiv, how does that differ from the in the arXiv, how does that differ from the journal version of the same article?journal version of the same article?

The Effect of the arXivThe Effect of the arXiv

• What is the citation pattern for articles in What is the citation pattern for articles in the arXiv, how does that differ from the the arXiv, how does that differ from the journal version of the same article?journal version of the same article?

The Effect of the arXivThe Effect of the arXiv

• Currently 75% of Astrophysical Journal Currently 75% of Astrophysical Journal articles are preprinted in the arXiv. What articles are preprinted in the arXiv. What is the difference in citation histories for is the difference in citation histories for those which are preprinted compared with those which are preprinted compared with those which are not?those which are not?

• What is the readership history?What is the readership history?

The Effect of the arXivThe Effect of the arXiv

• How has the arXiv changed the citation How has the arXiv changed the citation behavior of astronomers? behavior of astronomers?

The Effect of the arXivThe Effect of the arXiv

• The citation advantage of being in the The citation advantage of being in the arXiv is also present for PhysicsarXiv is also present for Physics

• The time history of citation impact factor The time history of citation impact factor for Physical Review D (nearly 100% in for Physical Review D (nearly 100% in arXiv) shows thisarXiv) shows this

The Effect of the arXivThe Effect of the arXiv

• The difference in change of citation impact The difference in change of citation impact with time for Physical Review D (~100% with time for Physical Review D (~100% arXiv) with Physical Review B (~40% arXiv) with Physical Review B (~40% arXiv) also shows thisarXiv) also shows this

• As does the difference in citation impact As does the difference in citation impact with time for Nuclear Physics B (~100% with time for Nuclear Physics B (~100% arXiv) with Nuclear Physics A (~35% arXiv) with Nuclear Physics A (~35% arXiv).arXiv).

Conclusions - CommentsConclusions - Comments

• With a total cost of <1% of the cost of With a total cost of <1% of the cost of personnel the journals are cheap. Far personnel the journals are cheap. Far more important than cost for astronomers more important than cost for astronomers is utility.is utility.

• It is not possible to be in a position to write It is not possible to be in a position to write an article for the Astrophysical Journal an article for the Astrophysical Journal without also being able to read the without also being able to read the Astrophysical Journal.Astrophysical Journal.

• Physical Review also.Physical Review also.

Conclusions - CommentsConclusions - Comments

• Astronomers want to read the articles Astronomers want to read the articles ASAP, they are quite willing to short circuit ASAP, they are quite willing to short circuit the refereeing process to do so.the refereeing process to do so.

• Astronomy’s preprint culture has led to a Astronomy’s preprint culture has led to a situation where an article must be put up situation where an article must be put up on astro_ph in order to be noticed, just on astro_ph in order to be noticed, just being published in the journal will not do.being published in the journal will not do.

• Also true for PhysicsAlso true for Physics

Conclusions - CommentsConclusions - Comments

• The danger in the current situation is to The danger in the current situation is to the brand. When all the important articles the brand. When all the important articles are in astro_ph, and people say they saw are in astro_ph, and people say they saw the article in astro_ph the value of a brand, the article in astro_ph the value of a brand, such as The Astrophysical Journal is such as The Astrophysical Journal is diminished.diminished.

• This may well kill some of the weaker This may well kill some of the weaker brands very quickly.brands very quickly.

Conclusions - CommentsConclusions - Comments

• The solution is for journals to put up there The solution is for journals to put up there own “preprint” versions, either after own “preprint” versions, either after submission or acceptance, using a name submission or acceptance, using a name (doi?) which always provides a permanent (doi?) which always provides a permanent link to the current version.link to the current version.