Author guidelines in chemistry through the lens of research data sharing

NFDI4Chem’s vision is the digitalisation of all key steps in chemical research to support scientists in their efforts to collect, store, process, analyse, publish, and re-use research data [1]. For that goal, we aim at making chemical research data FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) [2]. 

As the primary method of communicating research results, journals and their author guidelines have a tremendous impact on community behavior. To work with scientific journal editors to enhance recommendations on data publication, we organised the Editors4Chem workshop in 2021 [3]. The 2nd Editors4Chem workshop will be held in the fall of 2023. Additionally, we analysed author guidelines from several publishers and journals active in chemistry research.

This poster outlines the results of a large-scale analysis [4] of author guidelines: To which extent is the publishing landscape supporting FAIR Data and Open Science practices? In which areas is this support lacking and what are the underlying reasons? How should authors navigate these changes?

[1]  C. Steinbeck, O. Koepler, F. Bach, S. Herres-Pawlis, N. Jung, J. Liermann, S. Neumann, et al., Research Ideas and Outcomes, 2020, 6: e55852. DOI: 10.3897/rio.6.e55852. Website: www.nfdi4chem.de.

[2]  M. Wilkinson, M. Dumontier, I. Aalbersberg, G. Appleton, M. Axton, A. Baak, N. Blomberg, J.-W. Boiten, L. B. da Silva Santos, P. E. Bourne, et al. Sci Data 2016, 3, 160018, DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2016.18.

[3] T. G. Fischer, 1st Editors4Chem Workshop, www.nfdi4chem.de, 2021, URL: www.nfdi4chem.de/index.php/2021/11/23/1st-editors4chem-workshop/ 

[4] N. A. Parks, T. G. Fischer, C. Blankenburg, V. F. Scalfani, L. R. McEwen, S. Herres-Pawlis, S. Neumann, Pure Appl. Chem. 2023, ASAP. DOI: 10.1515/pac-2022-1001.