Open access in action—Stories from around the world: Dr Ruiz Serrano

Author: Jovial Toh

Welcome to a new blog series, where researchers take the spotlight to share their experiences publishing open access (OA). Why did they choose to publish their work OA? How did they cover article processing charges (APCs)? What was the impact of their OA publication? Hear directly from authors who’ve done it, and gain practical insights from their journeys. 

In this blog, we speak with Dr Andres Ruiz Serrano, whose latest article, “Rationality and the exploitation of natural resources: a psychobiological conceptual model for sustainability,” was published OA in the journal Environment, Development and Sustainability. Dr Ruiz Serrano published this article OA with the publishing costs covered by Springer Nature’s transformative agreement (TA) in Hong Kong. 

“I firmly believe that the transformative power of knowledge lies in its accessibility. For this reason, I constantly strive to publish my research OA.”

Thanks for being the first guest in this blog series! Could you tell us about yourself and your research, and what you think about publishing OA? 

My name is Andres Ruiz Serrano. I currently serve as a Senior Lecturer at Hong Kong Metropolitan University. My research includes strategic marketing, strategic management, organisational behaviour, theory of organisations, social welfare and innovation, sustainability and environmental innovation, social psychology, and institutional theory. Social development and equality have always been at the core of my professional and academic endeavours.

Since I started my research journey, I have been guided by a singular aspiration: To share the limited knowledge I have acquired with all humans across the globe. I firmly believe that the transformative power of knowledge lies in its accessibility.  

For this reason, I constantly strive to publish my research OA. If I am to assist society, I must ensure that knowledge is disseminated to nations, regions, communities, and individuals, for they have the natural right to learn from others.

When our knowledge and expertise are made available to all, we empower individuals to improve their quality of life. The absence of access to breakthrough technologies, scientific advancements, and inclusive public policies perpetuates cycles of disparity and marginalisation. It is, therefore, my commitment to share my humble knowledge and expertise through OA with those who do not possess the economic means to pay for a research article. 

What do you consider to be the benefits of publishing your work OA?   

For me, there are three major benefits when publishing our research OA:

1. We ensure the equitable dissemination of scientific knowledge, granting unrestricted access to individuals across all societal strata, particularly those who may lack the resources to obtain such knowledge. By doing so, we repay and honour our debts to society. We compensate for all that society has provided for us. 
2. OA amplifies the reach and influence of my work, reaching scholars, practitioners, and policymakers who might otherwise face financial barriers to accessing critical information. 
3. We ensure scientific knowledge is readily accessible anytime, anywhere. The COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies the life-saving potential of openly shared research. Had research on the Coronavirus been confined behind paywalls and journal subscriptions, the rapid development of vaccines, medical protocols and coordinated global responses might have been severely impeded, with devastating consequences for humanity. 

“I found that publishing OA under the agreement was efficient, practical, and transparent.”

You financed the OA publishing of your article through the Hong Kong JULAC OA agreement with Springer Nature, while you were affiliated with City University of Hong Kong, a participating institution. How did you become aware of this agreement, and what has been your experience publishing under it?. How did you become aware of this agreement, and what has been your experience publishing under it? 

City University of Hong Kong stands as a distinguished academic institution driven by ethical principles and a constant dedication to social development. The university prioritises empowering students, faculty, and external stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to social progress.  

In alignment with the university’s commitment to the dissemination of knowledge, they promote the Hong Kong JULAC OA agreement with Springer Nature through various channels, such as library campaigns and initiatives, workshops, and informational materials distributed across campus. I was introduced to this agreement through the invaluable guidance of CityU Library staff.  

The process of publishing my work under the OA agreement was remarkably efficient and seamless. The journal facilitated the verification of the agreement with CityU, while the university only had to confirm that my manuscript had been accepted.  

From that point onward, CityU and Springer Nature smoothly managed all subsequent steps, ensuring a simplified and expeditious experience for authors. Having also published OA previously not under an OA agreement, I found that publishing OA under the agreement was efficient, practical, and transparent. 

What would you consider to be some of the barriers or challenges to OA publishing in your field? 

It appears that certain scholars within the business field may be reluctant to accept the advantages of OA publishing due to institutional pressures and stereotypes. Unfortunately, a prevalent misconception persists within the academic community: Only subscription-based publications are considered sources of superior credibility, methodological rigour, and academic prestige.  

While it is undeniable that the integrity of a journal depends on the expertise of its editorial board and the diligence of its peer reviewers, this stereotype and bias inadvertently foster a perception of research as a commodified enterprise accessible to elite institutions and privileged academics.  

Contrary to this prevailing discourse, I have personally observed numerous OA articles and their authors achieving significant recognition, often ranking among the most cited and influential works in our field. As an academic community, it is critical that we collectively challenge these unfounded prejudices against OA publications. 

How would you define the societal impact of research? What support do researchers need to maximise the societal impact of their work and what role does OA play in it? 

The societal value of research depends on whether scientific knowledge is being created to assist society and the ecosystem. When research solely benefits a select demographic with the financial resources to access it, its influence is restricted to economic markets and niches, rather than advancing broader social progress.  

In such a case, knowledge becomes a luxury reserved for the few, for the privileged, rather than a shared resource for the many, for the commons. By publishing research openly, our research achieves its purpose of serving society and contributing meaningfully to the collective good. 

What advice would you give to others considering publishing their work OA? 

Fear not. The academic community ought to embrace a paradigm shift, one that prioritises accessibility and inclusivity over profit-driven models. Scholarship should be a pursuit of knowledge for the collective, not a commodity confined to those who can afford it. 

The Hong Kong JULAC agreement

Dr Ruiz Serrano’s article was published OA with fees covered under the Springer Nature transformative agreement (TA) in Hong Kong with all member libraries of the Joint University Librarians Advisory Committee (JULAC).  

This TA allows affiliated authors to publish their work OA with fees covered in more than 1,900 hybrid journals, and gives reading access to over 2,000 journals across the Springer and Adis portfolios. 

Thanks to the Hong Kong JULAC TA, which came into effect in 2024, there has been a massive rise in OA uptake in Hong Kong, noticeable across various disciplines: 

OA agreements, like the Hong Kong JULAC TA, offer eligible authors the most straightforward and accessible route to publishing their work OA. Authors like Dr Ruiz Serrano can enjoy the benefits of publishing OA.

Learn more about APCs and how you can identify your eligibility for financial support to publish your work OA. You can also visit our new OA agreements pages to find out whether your institution is part of a Springer Nature OA agreement.

- Don't miss the latest news and blogs, sign up to The Source Monthly Digest! -