The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations

Are we there yet?

Gisela Eberhardt and Nadine Riedl

The Open Access Journal eTopoi. Journal for Ancient Studies

Outline

• Brief introduction to Excellence Cluster Topoi and to its publications in general

• The e-journal eTopoi – Journal of Ancient Studies

o Publication Process

o Peer review process in eTopoi

• Are we there yet? Further challenges for the journal

Excellence Cluster Topoi - The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations

o Berlin based research network

o Promoted by the German Research Foundation (DFG) 2007-2017

o Hosted by two universities: Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

o Cooperation with four research institutions(Deutsches Archäologisches Institut; Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften; Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte; Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz)

o More than 200 scholars

o …from more than 30 disciplines

o …in 25 interdisciplinary research groups

Topoi‘s Publications (Open Access)

o Book series “Berlin Studies of the Ancient World”

- Launched 2008, initiately published by Walter de Gruyter (28 volumes)- Since 2014, published by Topoi itself, starting Vol. 29- Publication platform: www.edition-topoi.org- All publications available open access and book on demand

o eJournal “eTopoi. Journal for Ancient Studies”

- Launched 2011, based on Open Journal System (OJS)- http://journal.topoi.org- Goal: fast, open access and free of charge for all

disciplines investigating space and knowledge in antiquity- Currently 6 volumes: 3 regular annual volumes

and 3 special volumes

eJournal eTopoi.

eTopoi. Journal for Ancient Studies

Publication Process of the e-journal

1. Contribution2. Editors‘ check3. Copy editing4. Process of Quality Assurance (Peer Review)5. Language proofreading, clearing copy rights etc.6. Copy editing7. Typesetting8. Proofs check9. Online Publication

eTopoi. Journal for Ancient Studies

Publication Process of the e-journal

1. Contribution2. Editors‘ check3. Copy editing4. Process of Quality Assurance (Peer Review)5. Language proofreading, clearing copy rights etc.6. Copy editing7. Typesetting8. Proofs check9. Online Publication

©Partners in Crime by uncoolbob, on flickr (see http://www.molecularecologist.com/2014/07/peer-review-reviewed/)

Peer Review in eTopoi

Peer Review in eTopoi

Conducted by an intermediary, a so-called communicator The communicator-…is a competent peer who functions as an ‘editor’ of a particular article and is personally named-…determines two anonymous peer reviewers for a mostly double blind peer review-…mediates the revision process (supported by the editorial office)

The role of the communicator has two advantages, similar to those derived by an editorial board:-It increases the trust in the peer reviewing by making at least one of the involved persons transparent-He or she is an expert in the article-related field and connected to an appropriate peer-network to choose from for the review

©Partners in Crime by uncoolbob, on flickr (see http://www.molecularecologist.com/2014/07/peer-review-reviewed/)

Are we there yet?

Therefore, the electronic journal eTopoi. Journal for Ancient Studies is

o… 100% Open Access

o… free of charge for authors and readers

o… thoroughly peer reviewed

o… provided with full editorial assistance (proofreading, usage rights clearance etc)

o… open to all interested authors and readers worldwide

⇒“a forum of exchange between all disciplines in the area of classical and ancient studies” (to quote from the invitation to scholars from the eTopoi-Website)

Are we there yet?

Less submissions than expected

Main reasons

o ‘Young’ journal without significant prestige

o High diversity of disciplines, and thus, of themes / No narrow thematic focus

=> Insufficient public awareness

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o Promotion and networking (conferences, OA-websites, mailing lists)

o Disciplinary sections and/or tools to arrange articles according to disciplins/fields/keywords within the journal

o Special issues with CfP

o ‘Advertising’ by proper metadata (ensuring significance of abstracts, keywords, authors’ biography etc of submissions)

How to get there? Further challenges

How to attract authors and readers to an eJournal adressing various disciplines?

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Thank you