--- title: "Science Group Gives Open-Access Boost to Publishers" id: "43847" type: "post" slug: "science-group-gives-open-access-boost-to-publishers" published_at: "2018-08-21T14:40:23+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T22:38:46+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/08/21/science-group-gives-open-access-boost-to-publishers/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/08/21/science-group-gives-open-access-boost-to-publishers.md" excerpt: "With a new program, the American Association for the Advancement of Science is partnering up with academic institutions around the world to launch peer-reviewed open-access journals. Two Chinese universities have signed up so far." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "digital strategy" - "Open Access" - "Publishing" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Science Group Gives Open-Access Boost to Publishers The American Association for the Advancement of Science is looking to advance more than science at the moment: It’s taking direct aim at science’s distribution methods, too. Last year, AAAS, best known for its *Science* family of journals, announced [a program called Science Partner Journals (opens in a new tab)](http://www.sciencepartnerjournals.org/) , which has the goal to offer free online distribution of high-quality open-access journals distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. The program maintains the rigorous peer-reviewed structure that science journals are known for, while making knowledge distributed through these journals available for the benefit of a wide number of people. “With the launch of the Science Partner Journal program, we look forward to an exciting new chapter of collaboration with top international research organizations,” AAAS Publisher Bill Moran [said in a news release last year (opens in a new tab)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aaas-launches-science-partner-journal-program-to-support-global-expansion-of-high-quality-scientific-publishing-300560212.html) . Thus far, the program has teamed with two Chinese universities—the [China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nfais.org/aaas-announces--research--as-first-journal) and [Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aaas-announces-plant-phenomics-promoted-in-collaboration-with-nanjing-agricultural-university-as-the-second-journal-in-new-science-partner-journal-program-300698531.html) —on the release and distribution of their academic journals. In both cases, the publications, CAST’s *Research* and NAU’s *Plant Phenomics*, are newly created and in the midst of getting off the ground. *Research*, which aims to create a way for Chinese scientists to collaborate with their global counterparts, [is currently accepting submissions (opens in a new tab)](https://spj.sciencemag.org/research/) ; *Plant Phenomics*, which offers a home for academic research on phenomics-enabled plant biology, will begin doing so next month. The move reflects a broader initiative by AAAS [to move into a “digital-first” mindset](https://associationsnow.com/2015/02/lie-digital-transformation-spectrum/) with its content strategy, something it started a few years ago in part by [launching an open-access journal (opens in a new tab)](http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/02/aaas-launches-open-access-journal) of its own in 2014. More recently, the association has been experimenting with a registration-driven paywall [on its popular Science magazine website](https://associationsnow.com/2017/07/science-news-site-tries-metered-paywall-without-paywall/) , which targets general-interest consumers. (ChakisAtelier/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#digital strategy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/digital-strategy/) [#Open Access](https://associationsnow.com/tag/open-access/) [#Publishing](https://associationsnow.com/tag/publishing/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastWhy Associations Must Rethink Learning and Community TogetherMarch 26, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/26/why-associations-must-rethink-learning-and-community-together/) - [PodcastWhy AI Certification Matters for Association LeadersFebruary 26, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/02/26/why-ai-certification-matters-for-association-leaders/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F08%2F21%2Fscience-group-gives-open-access-boost-to-publishers%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !