Nature peer reviewers choose to reveal identities

Almost 4,000 peer reviewers have chosen to be named following a three-year referee-recognition trial conducted by scientific journal Nature.

During the trial, which was launched in 2016, authors of papers published in Nature were given the option of thanking the referees for their contribution, with the reviewers’ consent. In addition, reviewers who gave permission could also choose to have their names included, if the authors agreed.

According to an editorial on the Nature website published on 16 April, 91 per cent of Nature authors and 55 per cent of reviewers have opted in to the trial. Just over a quarter (26 per cent) of reviewers opted out, while a further 19 per cent of reviewers did not respond.