1. Sue Silver, PhD
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Ecological Society of America
New Frontiers for ESA Through
International Outreach
Society for Scholarly Publishing
Baltimore, May 2009
2. Ecological Society of America
•Introduction to ESA
•International connections
•ESA journals in China
•China workshops
3. Ecological Society of America
Ø Founded in 1915
Ø Over 9,900 members
Ø Programs include:
• Science
• Education and Diversity
• Public Affairs
• Annual Meetings
• Publications
4. ESA’ purpose
s
•Unify the science of ecology
•Stimulate research in all aspects of the
science
•Encourage communication among ecologists
•Promote responsible application of ecological
data and principles to the solution of
environmental problems
5. Overseas members
•1917
21 Members outside the USA (Canada,
Philippines, British Guiana, Panama Canal
Zone, Sweden
•2008
About 20% of members from 90+ countries
6. Chapters and sections
International chapters:
Ø Mexico chapter
Ø Canada chapter
Ø Latin American chapter
International sections
Ø Asian Ecology section
Ø International Affairs section
7. Federation of the Americas
Established in 2003, to
•Foster the science of ecology
•Improve communications among those
involved in ecological sciences in the Americas
•Improve dissemination of current ecological
knowledge across the continent
•Collaborate on actions to improve capacity
building
8. Federation of the Americas
Federation Members:
Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution
Ecological Society of America
Ecological Society of Argentina
Ecological Society of Chile
Mexico Society of Ecology
Ecological Society of Peru
Brazilian Ecological Association
14. ESA journals in China
In 2005, through Charlesworth China, ESA signs agreement
with China’ National Science and Technology Library
s
(NSTL)
Advantages
• One agreement, not library by library
• Publications available to 400 libraries (maybe 10–20 %
using fully)
• Low cost print sales to second tier institutions and
colleges
• Full price print sales through existing channels
15. Why China?
•1.3 billion people in China (300 mil. in the US)
•Over 20 million students
•1800 universities and 3900 research institutes
•Every year, 20% increase in Chinese going into
higher education
•Requirements to publish in high-impact,
international journals
16. Why China?
•Key area for sales and growth
•Increase in Chinese authors and content from
the country of value to Western readers
•Promote ESA’ mission abroad
s
17. Advantages to ESA
Ø Charlesworth visit libraries, provide support
Ø ESA webpages translated into Chinese
Ø Monitor usage
Ø Promote ESA titles
(Beijing book fair, six-city tour)
20. New frontiers
Workshops in China in 2007, 2008, and 2009
How to get published in high-impact
international journals
21. China workshops
Topics covered:
Ø How impact factors are calculated
Ø How to choose the right journal for your paper
Ø The importance of the Instructions to Authors
Ø What to put in a cover letter
Ø What the decision letter really means
Ø Top reasons papers get rejected
22. China workshops
Why do this?
Ø Improve acceptance rates for papers from China
Ø Help Chinese scientists navigate through the
“western” publishing system
Ø Expose young Chinese scientists to a different style
of teaching
Ø Make life easier for editorial staff
Ø Increase ESA’ visibility in China
s
Ø Enable collaborations with Chinese scientists
25. China workshops
Who else is doing this?
Ø Elsevier program
Ø Springer – help in creating Instructions to Authors
(China)
Ø HINARI, AGORA, OARE – “How to get published”
(Africa)
Ø Individuals – “How to write a scientific paper
(China)
Ø Others?
26. China workshops
How can others do this?
Ø Talk to people who have connections in China
Ø Write to Chinese Universities
Ø Contact Universities with Foreign Language
Departments
