The entire editorial board of the Journal of Human Evolution (JHE) has resigned, citing concerns over high fees, editorial independence, and the use of AI in editorial processes. This mass departure underscores a growing trend of protest against the business practices of major scientific publishers.
The resigning editors expressed deep regret over their decision, emphasizing their long-standing dedication to the journal. They stated that recent changes implemented by Elsevier, the journal's publisher, have compromised the core principles of JHE. These changes include the elimination of essential editorial support roles, which places an increased workload on the editorial board, and a restructuring that significantly reduces the number of associate editors.
Moreover, the board criticized Elsevier's increased reliance on AI in production without prior notification, leading to errors in style, formatting, and even alterations of finalized manuscripts. The board also highlighted the journal's high author page charges, deeming them exclusionary and contrary to Elsevier's stated commitment to equality and inclusivity. A critical point of contention involved a proposed reduction in compensation for co-editors, which the board viewed as a cost-cutting measure at the expense of quality.
The resignations have sparked renewed criticism of Elsevier, with some academics accusing the publisher of prioritizing profit over the quality of scientific research. The incident also raises concerns about the implications of using AI in scientific publishing, particularly regarding transparency and the potential for alterations to scholarly work. One scientist notes that authors should be informed about the usage of AI and should have the option to submit work elsewhere if they oppose AI involvement in the process.
This incident is the latest in a series of mass resignations from science journals, prompting discussions about the efficacy of such actions as a form of protest. While these resignations draw attention to issues within academic publishing, the focus is shifting towards establishing independent, open-access journals to ensure high academic standards. Former editors of Syntax, for example, are actively pursuing the creation of their own open-access, non-profit journal, following the examples of other former editors of other journals.
