Peer Review
Why peer reivew?
Peer review is the most important quality check that exists in science. It is a community effort to expertly evaluate new research and ensure that it is valid, credible and of the highest possible standard. It brings together the scientific community to improve the body of knowledge for the benefit of researchers, policy makers, business, education and the public.
With the rising interest in peer review in the academic research and publishing community, it’s important to recognize the value of peer review in the growth of global knowledge and for society at large.
Peer review | Our activities | Imagine a world with no peer review
Our activities
- The FEMS Journals – All of our journals operate the highest standard of academic peer review for articles submitted to the journals.
- Peer Review Week – We have joined forces with close to 30 leading science publishers and science communicators in this global initiative to promote the importance and value of peer review. Read on to see how we’ve been involved in Peer Review Week.
- Peer Review – reviewed – We have brought together campaigners, researchers and thought leaders in peer review to share their views on peer review and what they are doing to tackle some of the challenges. Read on to find out more.
Imagine a world with no peer review
Without peer review, what quality control would there be for academic research?
It’s abundantly clear that we need a reliable filter of quality and validity for academic research and communications.
Peer review is not a perfect process. On the one hand it is seen as a valuable asset to the academic community by improving the quality of published research; on the other it is seen as a growing burden on the very community it serves.
Yet despite its flaws, there is no substitute for peer review. We recognize the issues in peer review, but we believe that there is a great deal of good in the current peer review system, which is worth preserving and improving upon for the benefit of everyone.
We want to properly recognize the fundamental role that peer review plays in the academic research and publishing landscape. By bringing together researchers, campaigners and thought leaders in peer review to join the dialogue, we can better understand how to effect real change in how it is delivered for the benefit of society.
All but one of the FEMS journals are now fully open access (OA), with one journal, FEMS Microbiology Letters remaining a subscription journal with free-to-publish and OA options. Open access is key to supporting the FEMS mission of disseminating high quality research as widely as possible: when high quality, peer reviewed sound science is open access, anyone, anywhere in the world with an internet connection, can read it.
