Open Science

Open Access refers to a publishing model where research is made freely available online for the public to view.  It allows for increased transparency and accessibility for those who may not otherwise be able to obtain and read scientific literature by removing the barriers of paywalls and subscriptions.  There are a number of benefits for researchers who publish open access.  For example, open access papers draw more citations from a broader readership.

Image by PLoS, from Wikimedia Commons

Open-access papers draw more citations from a broader readership

A study published in 2024 addresses long-standing debate about whether free-to-read papers have increased reach.

Other advantages of publishing Open Access:

• Easily comply with funder mandates related to publishing

• Increase the number of unique visitors who view your articles

  • A BMJ study showed that unique visitors were 23% higher for open access articles than for subscription access articles

• Help drive cross-disciplinary innovation by making research publicly accessible 

• Increase the number of times your research is cited

  • Several studies have shown that research articles published in Open Access journals garner more citations (Brainard, Davis et. al, Gargouri et. al)

To learn more or to publish your work Open Access, please refer to this page on Publishing Open Access

• Current Problems in Scholarly Publishing

  This article outlines how Open Access initiatives can help address current issues in academic publishing.

• Why Open Access Matters

  This article provides an overview of why Open Access matters to society and the wider research ecosystem.

• What Faculty Can Do to Promote Open Access

This guide was created using many resources, many of them are linked throughout the guide. This guide was also built using information from UTSA Libraries and Museums guide on Open Science by Rachel Davis.