The Academy of Science of South Africa is calling on universities and science councils in the country to provide more support and recognition for academics who are involved in important but often overlooked tasks such as peer review and journal editing. These roles are crucial for maintaining the quality and integrity of research, yet they are not adequately valued within current academic reward systems.
While universities typically prioritize publication outputs and fundraising, tasks like editing journals, reviewing papers, and training new researchers in publishing skills are often not given the same level of importance. Assaf, in its statement, suggests that editing and reviewing should be explicitly included in academic reward systems to address this imbalance.
One of the issues highlighted is the difficulty in finding peer reviewers. The editor-in-chief of the South African Journal of Science mentioned that it is becoming increasingly challenging to find reviewers, leading to delays in processing papers and frustration among authors. Editors and peer reviewers are sometimes discouraged or stigmatized by their institutions, which can hinder their willingness to take on these responsibilities.
Furthermore, developing countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa, are particularly underserved in terms of reviewer availability. This scarcity of reviewers can have a negative impact on the scholarly publishing ecosystem, ultimately affecting the pursuit of reliable knowledge and academic excellence.
To tackle these challenges, Assaf recommends that universities and science councils allocate dedicated time for editors, peer reviewers, and editorial board members to fulfill their duties. Additionally, this work should be taken into consideration during performance evaluations to give these individuals the recognition they deserve. By providing support and acknowledgment for these essential roles, the scholarly publishing ecosystem can be strengthened, benefiting the academic community as a whole.