The Levy Library Blog

The Levy Library Co-Presents "Preprints: Facts, Myths and More" Event

On Tuesday, October 1st, members of the Mount Sinai research community gathered to hear from experts in the area of academic preprint publishing. Preprints: Facts, Myths and More, co-presented by The Levy Library and Mount Sinai's Postdoc Writing Group, offered attendees the opportunity to get an introduction to preprint articles, how the process differs from standard submissions, and how this particular technique can be beneficial to one's research output. 

Rachel Pinotti (Director, Library Education and Research Services, The Levy Library) kicked things off with a general overview of the role of preprint publishing in academic research. As the name implies, a preprint article is submitted to a dedicated repository prior to formal publication in a journal. Preprint repositories can be traced back to 1991 when physicists at Los Alamos National Labs created a central server for drafts of new research articles. Researchers in the physical sciences were early to embrace preprint publishing but other fields are beginning to come around.

 

Next up was John Inglis, PhD (Co-Founder, bioRxiv and medRxiv). Dr. Inglis picked up where the introduction left off and delved a bit more into the nitty-gritty of preprints. Straight to the point, he directly addressed common speculations and misconceptions about preprint publishing while also highlighting the advantages for both researchers and their communities:

• Fact: Preprints are the fastest growing form of scientific communication.
• Fact: Preprints are growing fastest in life science.
• Fact: bioRxiv's momentum prompted medRxiv's launch.
• Fact: Not all preprint servers are alike.
• Fact: The author controls a preprint.
• Fact: Preprint posting is quick, easy, and fast.
• Fact: Preprints are being integrated into journal publishing.
• Fact: Preprints accelerate science.
• Myth: If I post on a preprint server, I'll be scooped.
• Myth: You can post anything on bioRxiv and medRxiv.
• Myth: There is no quality control for preprints.
• Myth: It's hard to get preprints published in journals.
• Myth: Only journal papers will get me a job, grant, or promotion.

Rounding out the presenters was Samantha Hindle, PhD (Content Lead, bioRxiv). Dr. Hindle expanded upon the information previously given by Dr. Inglis and went into further detail arguing for the usage of preprints. Such reasoning included editorial prospecting for journal submissions, receiving valuable feedback during the peer review process, expansion of scholarly opportunities, and establishment of permanent citable objects. She also highlighted real-world examples of researchers who have benefited greatly thanks to preprint repositories and publishing.

This event rounded out with a panel discussion featuring members of the Mount Sinai community:

• Avi Ma'ayan, PhD, Professor | Pharmacological Sciences
• Ruth Loos, PhD, Professor | Environmental Medicine & Public Health
• Alison Goate, DPhil, Professor | Neuroscience, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Neurology
• Shea Andrews PhD, Professor | Goate Laboratory
• Michael S. Breen, PhD, Assistant Professor | Psychiatry, Genetics and Genomic Sciences

Thank you to all who attended and be sure to check our calendar for upcoming events and workshops.