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Publications Committee
2010–2012 term
Chair
Bernard Wood, Oxford University, England
Board Representative
Rob van der Hilst, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Members
David Alexander, Rice University, Houston, Texas
Franco Biondi, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
Jiwen Fan, PNNL, Richland, Washington
Efi Foufoula, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jaime Fucugauchi, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Natalia Ganushkina, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
David Hill, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Jun Korenaga, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Jeffrey Plescia, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland
Staff Liaison
William J. Cook
Barbara Major
The Publications Committee is responsible for a continuing review of the publications program of AGU to assure that the various components are responsive to the current needs of users, and to anticipate and prepare for future needs.
Committee Charge
- Serve as overview committee for the work of the Board of Journal Editors, Books Board, Library Advisory Board, several direction and review committees and publications task forces;
- Remain alert for opportunities to enhance the Union's publications program and recommend program changes for Council and/or the Board of Directors consideration;
- Regularly review financial performance data and industry trends that may have an adverse effect on the publications program and make recommendations that will maintain or improve the strength of the program;
- Recommend revisions, as necessary, to the policies that govern the publications program and individual publications;
- Provide oversight of search committees for Editors-in-Chief and editors;
- Be responsive to the strategic plans of the Union and undertake programs/actions to achieve relevant strategic objectives;
- Investigate complaints of potential scientific misconduct regarding the publications program and report to the President, as appropriate;
- Regularly review the scientific scope of existing journals and work with Editors to define journal profiles; and
- Review and recommend actions on proposals submitted by staff, Council, or members for new AGU journals or to discontinue publication of journals.
Work Plan for 2010–2012
- Monitor governmental and funding agency policy changes regarding 'open access' that might put the viability of the journals program at risk;
- With such risks in mind, develop alternative financial models and contingency plans to avoid disruption of publications programs and forward recommendations to the Board of Directors;
- Identify and address issues that may prevent AGU journals from being leaders in their fields;
- Review the decision to eliminate print publications by 2011—including the principles underlying pricing and licensing terms— and, if still considered appropriate, monitor progress;
- Monitor program operations data to ensure competitive position regarding timeliness of publications, including submission-to-review and submission-to- publication statistics;
- Continue to increase the functionality of the journals and other publications products delivered via electronic media;
- Monitor the outcomes of the Editor-in-Chief search committees in terms of identification of high quality candidates, smooth transitions, and increasing the pool of potential Editors from under-represented groups;
- Evaluate the strength and financial health of the books program, including considering how electronic technologies can be used to improve the program;
- Review the current policy on Misconduct in Science and make recommendations to the Council and Board of Directors for change; and
- Address questions of how AGU, in collaboration with other relevant organizations, can make scientific results from the Earth and space sciences more accessible to teachers, policy makers, students and the general public.
–July 2010