The Researcher Academy Symposium held in XJTLU library on 25 Oct 2023 brought together distinguished individuals to delve into the world of academic publishing, offering early-career researchers valuable insights, strategies, and inspiration. Organized by the Library Academic Liaison and Reference Division, the event was a resounding success, featuring three prominent speakers, Ms. Chen Zhou (Training Specialist, Oxford University Press), Dr. Graham Dawson (Associate Professor, School of Science, XJTLU) and Dr. Darcy Sperlich (Associate Professor, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, XJTLU), who shared their expertise on the topic of "Demystifying Academic Publishing: Challenges and Opportunities for Early-career Researchers."

The Researcher Academy Symposium Held on 25 Oct 2023

The first speaker, Ms. Chen Zhou, a representative from Oxford University Press, provided a comprehensive presentation titled "How to Publish with Oxford University Press." Ms. Zhou's wealth of experience in academic paper publishing shone through her talk. She detailed the entire publishing process, from manuscript preparation and peer review to article publication charges, and post-publication promotion.

How to Publish with Oxford University Press by Ms. Chen Zhou from Oxford University Press

Dr. Graham Dawson, an Associate Professor at XJTLU, then took the stage to share his insights on "How to Publish in Peer-Reviewed Journals for Early Career Researchers." Dr. Dawson drew from his extensive experience in publication in international peer-reviewed journals to provide practical advice. He emphasized the importance of goal-setting, choosing target journals wisely, and effectively responding to reviewer comments. He also interpreted his considerations on open access journal.

How to Publish in Peer-Reviewed Journals for Early Career Researchers by Dr. Graham Dawson from School of Science, XJTLU

Finally, Dr. Darcy Sperlich, an Associate Professor of Linguistics at XJTLU, brought a speech called "Being 'Open' in Research – What Could it Mean?". He shared his feelings and insights when occupying various roles in the academic publishing process, including being a researcher, reviewer, and academic editor. Building upon this, he imparted knowledge on the key considerations during the submission process and potential solutions.

Being Open' in Research – What Could it Mean? by Dr. Darcy Sperlich from School of Humanities and Social Sciences, XJTLU

After the three speakers concluded their presentations, the attendees responded enthusiastically, actively posing questions and engaging in discussions with the speakers. The questions spanned manuscript framework, the submission process, and the application of AI within it.

FAQ Session

The Researcher Academy Symposium proved to be a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, offering attendees a wealth of information on academic publishing and open research, setting the stage for the success of early-career researchers. The next scholarly communication event is planned to be held in May 2024. The Library looks forward to seeing you at our event.