[APWG] Scientific and Scholarly Publication Access Re: APWG Digest, Vol 71, Issue 8, earthworm invasion [1/2]
Wayne Tyson
landrest at cox.net
Mon Aug 10 00:05:42 CDT 2009
APWG:
Yousey is not alone in her analysis. Anyone used to be able to go to a good free library and access almost any journal, scan the paper, and decide whether or not it was worth copying for use in furthering research or improving the quality of public understanding through competent reporting and other means.
Academics' and researchers' institutions pay dearly for subscriptions to such journals, and the costs have grandly escalated in recent years when, considering the increased efficiency of electronic publication, the cost should have dropped. The reason it hasn't isn't very complex; the publishers want to make more money, not less. The net effect is that Ivory Towers have been constructed ever higher, and the moats around them more crowded with crocodiles and other unpleasant obstacles to entry by the unconnected rabble.
There are some encouraging signs in the direction toward Open Access and Open Discussion, but sentiments like Yousey's need to be voiced more widely if they are ever to be nurtured and grow.
Untenured academics are in a difficult spot. They dare not object (and why would they, as their institutions pay for "unlimited" access), because they want tenure or other job security, and they think (with good cause) that they must publish in "major" journals to advance their careers. The academic system is rigid, and changes slowly.
However, the University of California Library, to name one major institution, has recently voiced objections (2002?) to the usury charges by the "clay-paper" journals-cum-on-line, and there have been some rumblings about the generally low quality of research appearing in some of the major journals. I believe these whistle-blowers have been silenced, however--at least my recent enquiries to UC Library have gone unanswered. Follow the money?
What is needed are on-line journals that are sufficiently well-endowed and efficient to earn the respect of scientists and scholars world-wide without charging exorbitant publication fees (independent scholars, serious amateurs, and other "fans" of knowledge need not apply--they can't even afford the cheapest on-line journals). Then, academics and scholars need to shift their attention away from the traditional so-called "major" journals, refusing to publish in them, and favoring Open Access as well as freedom from publication charges (again, paid for by their institutions--and taxpayers in the case of government-supported institutions).
Come to think of it, there's really no reason that listservs couldn't serve as journals. The current "peer" review system has long been a joke, with competing academics getting off on trashing their colleagues' papers all too often rather than being open to new ideas. What would be wrong with publication on-list and peer review being open to all "peers" and anyone else who can offer reasoned criticism? At the very least, listservs could be easily set up that specialized in "pre-publication" and "pre-review" by all interested parties?
Which system would be more effective and efficient at advancing the cause of science and scholarship and opening up the Ivory Towers to invading hordes of the likes of the self-educating masses?*
I respectfully submit this "pixel-paper" for your pre-review.
WT
*True or untrue: It is common for academics and other anointed elites to complain about the ignorant rabble? Perhaps the complaint is well-justified. But is there any inconsistency when the rabble request admission to the Gates of Knowledge and are denied? Yes or no?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Yousey" <rjyousey at att.net>
To: <apwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: [APWG] APWG Digest, Vol 71, Issue 8, earthworm invasion
> Hello, all, I have to agree with Wayne, I find it highly disturbing that
> 'this type of research' is screened by 'pay per view'. If I could read it, I
> could make a more intelligent comment, instead, I can only make guesses
> inspired by the characterization given in the abstract. I don't wish to
> imply that this is happening with this particular article, but in the past,
> I have read articles that downplay limited research methods, conflicting
> conclusions or both in the body of the article, and then post conclusions in
> the abstract based on limited evidence, much like reporters do in the news
> we read today. Corporate, government, and university employees don't have
> this type of access problem, at least not with the journals subscribed to by
> their boss, or boss's boss. In this particular case, it would be helpful to
> read the article and perhaps it would stimulate a useful discussion. I
> imagine that there are several people on this list who study earthworms. It
> also is a bit disconcerting that the USDA opening in MS is juxtaposed. A
> coincidence, indeed, but what direction are we taking? The problem of
> information access, both too much and too little, and for who, is endemic in
> our e-world that we have created. Would it be possible for APWG to subscribe
> to and/or pay for a copy of the article, sort of like a library. Then if
> need be, we could pay $.05, instead of $50.00. With enough members accessing
> the article, it may even become a sustainable solution.
>
> Kim Yousey
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
> [mailto:apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of
> apwg-request at lists.plantconservation.org
> Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 10:01 PM
> To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
> Subject: APWG Digest, Vol 71, Issue 8
>
> Send APWG mailing list submissions to
> apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
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> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
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> tion.org
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> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Fw: [PCA] Position Vacancy - USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center
> manager in Coffeeville, MS (Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov)
> 2. Re: eradication futile without looking at underlying causes
> (Wayne Tyson)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 11:01:26 -0400
> From: Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
> Subject: [APWG] Fw: [PCA] Position Vacancy - USDA-NRCS Plant Materials
> Center manager in Coffeeville, MS
> To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org, apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
> Message-ID:
> <OFB089F68F.293F9D29-ON8525760B.00527B79-8525760B.00526B47 at fws.gov>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Excuse the cross-postings but job announcements may be of interest to all
> PCA members!
>
> -Patricia
>
> Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
> Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
> Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
> US Fish & Wildlife Service
> 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
> Arlington, VA 22203
> 703-358-1708 x1753
> FAX: 703-358-2276
>
> Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.
> <www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>
>
> ----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 08/07/2009 10:59
> AM -----
>
> "Englert, John - Washington, DC" <John.Englert at wdc.usda.gov>
> Sent by: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
> 08/06/2009 11:02 AM
>
> To
> "native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org"
> <native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org>
> cc
>
> Subject
> [PCA] Position Vacancy - USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center manager in
> Coffeeville, MS
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has a vacancy announcement
> for the Plant Materials Center Manager at the Jamie L. Whitten Plant
> Materials Center in Coffeeville, Mississippi.
>
> This Permanent Full-Time position is on USDA jobs at the following links.
> Non-status applications:
> http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=82672948
> Status applications: http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=82673032
> The position is a GS-401-11/12, salary range is 56,411.00 - 87,893.00 USD
> /year.
>
> More information on the NRCS Plant Materials program can be found at
> http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov. The NRCS Plant Materials
> Program selects conservation plants and develops innovative planting
> technology to solve the nation's most important resource concerns. The
> Program includes a network of 27 Plant Materials Centers (PMCs) and
> associated Plant Materials Specialists serving all 50 states and
> territories. The Plant Materials Program is a leader in the selection and
> promotion of native and conservation plants used for soil and water
> quality improvement, wildlife habitat, air quality and a variety of other
> resource and social concerns.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> John M. Englert
> National Program Leader - Plant Materials
> USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
> 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Room 6157-S
> Washington, DC 20250
> phone: 202-720-0536
> fax: 202-720-2646
> john.englert at wdc.usda.gov
> http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov
>
> _______________________________________________
> native-plants mailing list
> native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org
> http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/native-plants_lists.plan
> tconservation.org
>
>
> Disclaimer
> Posts on this list reflect only the opinion of the individual who is
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 13:39:00 -0700
> From: "Wayne Tyson" <landrest at cox.net>
> Subject: Re: [APWG] eradication futile without looking at underlying
> causes
> To: "Bob Beyfuss" <rlb14 at cornell.edu>, <Jil_Swearingen at nps.gov>
> Cc: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org, ma-eppc at yahoogroups.com, Nate
> Herendeen <nrh3 at cornell.edu>
> Message-ID: <00ce01ca179f$180f3850$6401a8c0 at wayneb2f97d881>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Bob and friends,
>
> Interesting, but I can't afford to pay download fees for every article that
> might be useful, especially in excess of fifty bucks a clip. Nor can I
> afford "membership" fees for all the sites that, while perhaps delightful
> individually, taken collectively, add up to that "Giant Sucking Sound."
>
> However, I do agree with your point "the futility of simply trying to
> eradicate certain invasive plants without understanding the underlying
> factors contributing to the invasion." When I have tried to raise this issue
> at other invasive-species sites, as well as their meetings and seminars, it
> was as welcome as a skunk at a garden party. It would be interesting to know
> how the majority and the leadership of APWG sees this issue . . .
>
> WT
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bob Beyfuss
> To: Jil_Swearingen at nps.gov
> Cc: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org ; ma-eppc at yahoogroups.com ; Nate
> Herendeen
> Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 12:15 PM
> Subject: [APWG] eradication futile without looking at underlying causes
>
>
> Hi All
> Please check out the following link.
>
> http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/cbi/2009/00000023/00000004/art0002
> 9
> I am pleased to see this type of research. It points out the futility of
> simply trying to eradicate certain invasive plants without understanding the
> underlying factors contributing to the invasion. I strongly suspect that
> what is true for these 3 species has similar parallels for many others. We
> need to step back and think before we whip out the herbicide sprayers. It
> makes me wonder how much more taxpayer money will be wasted in these
> attempts.
> Bob
>
>
> Hi,
>
> If you do a lot of public education on invasive plants, these models may be
> helpful especially when live material is not.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jil
>
> __________________
> JIL M SWEARINGEN
> Invasive Species Management Specialist
> NPS National Capital Region
> Center for Urban Ecology
> 4598 MacArthur Blvd. NW
> Washington DC 20007
> 202-342-1443, ex 218
> http://www.nps.gov/cue
> http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien
> http://www.invasive.org/weedus
>
> ----- Forwarded by Jil Swearingen/NCR/NPS on 08/06/2009 10:27 AM -----
>
> "Karen Adair"
> <kadair at tnc.org>
> Sent by: To
> InvasivesOhio at yah <InvasivesOhio at yahoogroups.com>
> oogroups.com cc
>
> Subject
> 07/20/2009 04:15 [InvasivesOhio] FW: New Weed
> PM Models!
>
>
> Please respond to
> InvasivesOhio at yah
> oogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> please see below
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Ellen Jacquart
>
> Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 9:12 AM
>
>
>
>
>
> FYI - you can now purchase life-like plastic models of garlic mustard and
> purple
> loosestrife for educational use.
>
>
>
> /////////////////////////////
>
> Ellen Jacquart
>
> Director of Stewardship
>
> Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy
>
> 1505 N. Delaware #200
>
> Indianapolis, IN 46202
>
> 317-951-8818
>
> ejacquart at tnc.org
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Brokke, Dianne [mailto:dbrokke at montana.edu]
>
> Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 7:48 PM
>
> To: Ellen Jacquart
>
> Subject: New Weed Models!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Greetings,
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Our new weed models and weed ID cards for these models have arrived!
> Pictures of
> these new weed models and the ID cards will be available on our website (
>
> www.weedcenter.org) in a day or two. Boxes of these weed models or the
> weed ID
> cards can be ordered from MSU Extension Publications
> (orderpubs at montana.edu).
> Please reference the Product Code (4512, 4513, etc.) listed for each weed
> model
> species or ID cards you wish to order.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Weed Models
>
>
>
>
>
> 4512 Perennial pepperweed (box of 12 stems) $70
>
>
>
>
>
> 4513 Garlic mustard (box of 24 stems) $45
>
>
>
>
>
> 4514 Purple loosestrife (box of 12 stems) $70
>
>
>
>
>
> 4515 Saltcedar (tamarisk) (box of 12 stems) $70
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Weed ID Cards
>
>
>
>
>
> 4516 Perennial pepperweed ID Cards (10 cards) $ 1
>
>
>
>
>
> 4517 Garlic mustard ID Cards (10 cards) $ 1
>
>
>
>
>
> 4518 Purple loosestrife ID Cards (10 cards) $ 1
>
>
>
>
>
> 4519 Saltcedar (tamarisk) ID Cards (10 cards) $ 1
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> You can order weed bouquets of these models by emailing me.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Educational Bouquet (1 stem of each model plus 1 weed ID card for each
> model)
> $40
>
>
>
>
>
> Display Bouquet (3 stems of each model plus 1 weed ID card for each model
> species)
> $75
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks for your interest in these new weed models.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dianne
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dianne Brokke, Grants/Office Manager, Center for Invasive Plant Management,
> 333
> Leon Johnson Hall, Montana State University, PO Box 173120, Bozeman, MT,
>
> 59717-3120 / Ph: 406-994-5557 / Fax: 406-994-1889 / www.weedcenter.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> CIPM provides Technology transfer ? Online learning ? Grants ? CWMA
> resources ?
> Publications ? Collaborations among scientists, educators, and natural
> resource
> managers
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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