Letter to the editor of 'Chemistry & Industry'

Sir

The announcement on page four of issue 19 that the publication of Chemistry & Industry has been outsourced, brings with it the opportunity for me to explain my reasons for resigning the position of chairman of the SCI publications advisory committee on 5th July, the day following the SCI’s annual general meeting at which I was elected to the position by the membership.

I had been informed only twelve days in advance of the board of trustees meeting on July 4th, at which the outsourcing was to be approved, that planning for the changes had been in progress for several months. The proposal was adopted by a majority of the trustees, but I was left with several doubts over the outsourcing itself and the manner in which it had been carried out.

Firstly, as chairman of the transitional publications advisory committee, I had not been consulted during the planning period. Neither was input from qualified SCI staff and advisors, with many decades of years’ experience in publishing between them, sought in the preparation of the proposal.

Contrast this with the situation in 2003 when I led the call for proposals for a new contractual arrangement for the publication of SCI’s journals, which resulted in a significantly higher share of revenues for SCI and averted a potential financial crisis for the society. A team comprising staff, publishing experts and members of the publications committee was assembled to identify the best possible solution for the Society. There was a carefully prepared call for proposals and impartial assessment of tenders.

As far as I know, the future of SCI’s flagship publication has been placed in the hands of a publishing company without the Society carefully seeking alternative tenders for the work and with the selection of publisher being made on a basis which has not been explained. It appears to have been a decision that was rushed into, with little analysis of the alternatives available.

While the C&I title remains in SCI’s ownership, its budgets will undoubtedly be cut, as this almost without exception is the case in outsourcing arrangements in the publishing industry. There will, inevitably, despite the best efforts of the editorial team, be a commensurate reduction in the quality of the publication, which remains the only benefit that is taken up by the majority of SCI’s membership. In the longer term this may lead to falling membership renewals and have consequences on the finances of the Society.

We must also consider the fact that with the outsourcing of C&I and the move of the SCI journals editorial office to Wiley, little or no scientific knowledge or experience remains on the SCI’s headquarters staff. Little thought, also, appears to have been given to the welfare, beyond the statutory minimum, of the staff that worked in the former publications department.

I hope that, considering the above, members will understand that I was unable to remain in the position of chairman of the publications advisory committee. It is a decision that was not taken lightly.
Yours truly,

Dr William Town

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