Plan S processing charges could create ‘scientific dystopia’

Young academics from across Europe have warned that the open-access initiative Plan S could lead to further divisions between researchers if the wrong publishing model is followed.

In a report published on 15 October, the Global Young Academy and several European young academies—including those of Belgium, Hungary and Scotland—said that Plan S was “a bold step that has the potential to be a game-changer” in how publicly funded research is published.

But they warned that “large room for possible interpretation and implementation” had led to concerns that Plan S may not lead to the “positive changes” young scientists believe are necessary. The academies set out two opposing scenarios to illustrate what they view as potential positive and negative consequences.