Debate: Should We Publish in Academic Journals?

Book Shelf Library — Photo: Wall Boat/Flickr

Oxford-style debate on publishing in academic journals

The way research is published shapes how knowledge is shared, trusted, and expanded. There is an ongoing debate about the adequacy of the traditional academic publication system and many researchers question whether it still meets their needs. Consequently, new dissemination models are gaining attention. These alternatives are often created and led by the research communities themselves, offering fresh approaches to how scholarly work is shared.

This session will feature an Oxford-style debate between two experts with contrasting perspectives on the future of scholarly publishing.

Bernd Pulverer, Head of Scientific Publishing at EMBO Press, will make the case for the ongoing value of traditional academic publishing. EMBO Press is a well-established nonprofit publisher supported by a scholarly institution.
Opposing that view, Alexandra Freeman, founder of Octopus, will advocate for fundamentally new forms of scholarly communication. Octopus is a community-driven platform that seeks to move beyond classic journal models.

Each speaker will present their position on how their platform addresses what today’s researchers should expect from publishing—such as openness, fairness, transparency, and quality.

As an audience member, you will actively shape the discussion by voting on the central question both before and after the debate. The session will be moderated by Jessica Rohmann, an epidemiologist and strong advocate for rigorous research practices. Our interactive format will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each position and the audience will play a role in shaping the future of academic publishing.

Whether you are deeply involved in scholarly publishing or simply curious about how research enters the public domain, this session offers an engaging, participatory look at a system that influences which knowledge is seen, trusted, and used, and ultimately, how the future of science, policy, and innovation is constructed.

Bernd Pulverer

Bernd Pulverer brings the viewpoint of a on-profit academic publisher affiliated with a leading organization supporting the biosciences. He is Head of Scientific Publications at EMBO Press, the publishing arm of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)—the leading European learned society in molecular biology. EMBO Press has published leading peer reviewed journals since 1982. He is a molecular biologist with an extensive editorial background, including senior roles at the journals Nature, Nature Cell Biology (Chief Editor, 2002–2009), and The EMBO Journal (Chief Editor, 2009–2021) but also works as the publisher of the EMBO Press journals.

Alexandra Freeman

Alexandra Freeman founded Octopus in 2021, a new publishing platform for scholarly research where researchers can publish all their work for free, in full detail. The platform is funded by UKRI – the UK government research funder. Alexandra Freeman has served as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords since 2024 and is renowned for her work in science communication and evidence-based policy. She was also Executive Director of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge and spent 16 years at the BBC, where she produced acclaimed science programmes.

Jessica Rohmann (Moderation)

Portrait Jess Rohmann — Photo: Felix Petermann (MDC)

Jessica Rohmann is an epidemiologist with a focus on causal inference from observational health data and on improving the quality of methods used in applied health research more broadly. She developed the Peerspectives peer review training program, where early-career researchers learn about and critically examine the publication system, develop skills needed for peer review practice, and perform real peer reviews for leading journals in small groups alongside an experienced editor-mentor. Jessica is also responsible for the ‘Responsible Research’ strategic area of Charité Strategy 2030 and a member of the Steering Committee for the Berlin University Alliance’s Objective 3, which is dedicated to advancing research quality and value.