Slide 1

The missing link in the research cycle: AuthorAID at INASP

Julie Walker, Publishing Support, INASP

Slide 2

Support for researchers

Research (access initiatives such as PERii, Research 4 Life)

Publish/disseminate(Support with Author fees, language editing services)

Apply for funding

Proposal writing workshops,

how to guides

Slide 3

Slide 4

Challenges for developing country researchers

• Limited resources

• Lack of personal mentoring and support

• Lack of writing skills training

• Lack of knowledge of appropriate journals

• Pressure to publish in prestigious international journals

• Language issues

• Connectivity/ Power problems

Slide 5

Publisher and institutional approach

• A sticking plaster approach• Directing authors to editing organisations or web

based guides but no training in writing skills or the mechanics of getting published or offering one-to-one support

• Some exceptions: Emerald, ISEE (International Society for Environmental Epidemiology), International Journal of Social Welfare

• More institutions recognising the importance of research writing skills training and support but lack resources

Slide 6

AuthorAID www.authoraid.info

• www.authoraid.info

Slide 7

Networking

• The AuthorAID website (www.authoraid.info) developed in collaboration with ILRT and Pure Usability Ltd.

• A global research community with over 1550 members and 3,000 to 4,000 visits per month

• Opportunity to communicate with other researchers across the globe

• Intersection of all AuthorAID activities

Slide 8

Mentoring

• Either scientific or editorial

• South/South North/South North/North

• Manual matching and online

• Online mentoring system– Self matching– Online collaboration space but not compulsory– Guidelines and learning agreement

Slide 9

Resources

• 182 resources in 6 languages:– English

– French

– Spanish

– Chinese

– Arabic

– Vietnamese

• Portuguese to be added soon. • Development of a Spanish website.

Slide 10

Slide 11

Training

• Workshops on research writing– Currently seven per year– Held in AuthorAID focus countries and INASP partner

countries– Invited participants include AuthorAID registered members,

IFS and TDR grantees, INASP partner country researchers

• Future developments– Online teaching packs– Train the trainer workshops– Online tutorials and events– More social science workshops

Slide 12

Support for researchers with AuthorAID

Research (use AuthorAID to connect with

other researchers in the field

Find a mentor/improve writing skills

through AuthorAID

Publish/disseminate!(Use AuthorAID to

help find the right journal)

Apply for funding (Use AuthorAID

for writing the funding proposal)

Slide 13

New and future developments

• Facebook and Twitter accounts and ‘share this’

• Instant messaging

• Mobile friendly site

• ‘Publisher’s corner’ for calls for papers etc

• Publisher awards

• Online events

• Discussion list

• RSS feeds

Slide 14

How can you help?

Recruiting mentors:• Involve societies• Retired academics/editors• Instructions to authors

Other support:• Guest blogs• Resources• Supporting publisher awards

Slide 15

Mentor comments

..looking periodically at the AuthorAIDwebsite helps me seethe issues thatdeveloping-countryresearchers regardas important..

I am trying to assist busy medical doctors in learning to write, set goals, do statistics, etc. as partof a fellowship plan. It's good to know others are doing the same and that resources areavailable.

Satisfying to have a way for me to

use my specialized skills to help the world scientific

community. Looks good on my

LinkedIn profile.