Top physics labs sign up to open access with PhysMath Central

*Apologies for cross-posting*

13 December, 2007

Top physics laboratories sign up to open access with
PhysMath=20
Central

Open Access gains further momentum with commitments from
CERN &=20
DESY to cover article-processing charges

PhysMath Central, the Open Access publisher for Physics,=20
Mathematics and Computer Science, today announced
membership=20
agreements with the CERN and DESY high-energy physics=20
laboratories.  Under these agreements the organizations
will=20
centrally cover article-processing charges for all
research=20
published by their investigators in the peer-reviewed open
access=20
journal, PMC Physics A.

PMC Physics A is edited by professor Ken Peach of University
of=20
Oxford and Royal Holloway and was launched in October 2007.
All=20
articles published in the journal are made immediately and
freely=20
available on the web in their final published form and
are=20
indexed by speciality databases such as SPIRES.

Jens Vigen, CERN head librarian commented "This
membership=20
program is an important, intermediate, step towards the
SCOAP3=20
publishing model, where high-energy physics literature will
be=20
open access and article processing costs borne centrally in
a=20
transparent way for authors". Salvatore Mele, SCOAP3
project=20
leader, echoing Vigen's views, stated "The SCOAP3
consortium will=20
be open to all high-quality peer-reviewed journals,
including=20
emerging publishing outlets as well as established
titles".

Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Research Director at DESY, is also
optimistic=20
about the future. "We at DESY have long been active
supporters of=20
open access and welcome this new OA journal. This is
another=20
important step in removing access barriers to knowledge
about=20
high-energy physics experiments and theories. Increased
choice=20
and diversity is a benefit to all, leading to a healthy
and=20
dynamic market in academic publishing in particle physics,
in=20
line with the spirit of SCOAP=B3."

PhysMath Central's Christopher Leonard commented, "We
are=20
exceptionally pleased to welcome these major institutions
on=20
board.  This reinforces CERN and DESY's commitment to
supporting=20
open access publication of the research from their
laboratories.=20
Central funding for article processing charges makes life
much=20
simpler for authors, and so accelerates the take up of
open=20
access. "

Media Contact
Charlotte Webber
Press Office, BioMed Central
Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7631 9980
Email: pressbiomedcentral.com
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