Kira Hopkins
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kirahopkins.bsky.social
Kira Hopkins
@kirahopkins.bsky.social
200 followers 400 following 96 posts
Scholarly Publishing Outreach Officer for Opening the Future at Copim, OA enthusiast, publisher (sometimes!)
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Reposted by Kira Hopkins
copim.bsky.social
[BLOG] @scholtom.bsky.social shares his thoughts in a 2-part guest post on @hnetbookchannel.bsky.social

1️⃣ Bonfire of the Humanities: Publishing Challenges, Opportunities, and Open Access buff.ly/ofK2Zl0
2️⃣ Viable Alternatives to Book Processing Charges (BPCs) buff.ly/HwLMXkS

#FeedingTheElephant
November 13, 2025 at 9:01 AM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
This great article is - rightly - garnering a lot of responses from academics. Many voice outrage, a call for regulation of the market etc. But this is somewhat of an abrogation of duty! Both 'Strain' and 'Drain' cover the Big 5 - there is a wide, rich publishing ecosystem outside of them. 1/2
hansonmark.bsky.social Mark A. Hanson @hansonmark.bsky.social · 15d
We wrote the Strain on scientific publishing to highlight the problems of time & trust. With a fantastic group of co-authors, we present The Drain of Scientific Publishing:

a 🧵 1/n

Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
Oligopoly: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
A table showing profit margins of major publishers. A snippet of text related to this table is below. 1. The four-fold drain 1.1 Money Currently, academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who created it. The dominant four are Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley and Taylor & Francis, which collectively generated over US$7.1 billion in revenue from journal publishing in 2024 alone, and over US$12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024 (Table 1A). Their profit margins have always been over 30% in the last five years, and for the largest publisher (Elsevier) always over 37%. Against many comparators, across many sectors, scientific publishing is one of the most consistently profitable industries (Table S1). These financial arrangements make a substantial difference to science budgets. In 2024, 46% of Elsevier revenues and 53% of Taylor & Francis revenues were generated in North America, meaning that North American researchers were charged over US$2.27 billion by just two for-profit publishers. The Canadian research councils and the US National Science Foundation were allocated US$9.3 billion in that year. A figure detailing the drain on researcher time. 1. The four-fold drain 1.2 Time The number of papers published each year is growing faster than the scientific workforce, with the number of papers per researcher almost doubling between 1996 and 2022 (Figure 1A). This reflects the fact that publishers’ commercial desire to publish (sell) more material has aligned well with the competitive prestige culture in which publications help secure jobs, grants, promotions, and awards. To the extent that this growth is driven by a pressure for profit, rather than scholarly imperatives, it distorts the way researchers spend their time. The publishing system depends on unpaid reviewer labour, estimated to be over 130 million unpaid hours annually in 2020 alone (9). Researchers have complained about the demands of peer-review for decades, but the scale of the problem is now worse, with editors reporting widespread difficulties recruiting reviewers. The growth in publications involves not only the authors’ time, but that of academic editors and reviewers who are dealing with so many review demands. Even more seriously, the imperative to produce ever more articles reshapes the nature of scientific inquiry. Evidence across multiple fields shows that more papers result in ‘ossification’, not new ideas (10). It may seem paradoxical that more papers can slow progress until one considers how it affects researchers’ time. While rewards remain tied to volume, prestige, and impact of publications, researchers will be nudged away from riskier, local, interdisciplinary, and long-term work. The result is a treadmill of constant activity with limited progress whereas core scholarly practices – such as reading, reflecting and engaging with others’ contributions – is de-prioritized. What looks like productivity often masks intellectual exhaustion built on a demoralizing, narrowing scientific vision. A table of profit margins across industries. The section of text related to this table is below: 1. The four-fold drain 1.1 Money Currently, academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who created it. The dominant four are Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley and Taylor & Francis, which collectively generated over US$7.1 billion in revenue from journal publishing in 2024 alone, and over US$12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024 (Table 1A). Their profit margins have always been over 30% in the last five years, and for the largest publisher (Elsevier) always over 37%. Against many comparators, across many sectors, scientific publishing is one of the most consistently profitable industries (Table S1). These financial arrangements make a substantial difference to science budgets. In 2024, 46% of Elsevier revenues and 53% of Taylor & Francis revenues were generated in North America, meaning that North American researchers were charged over US$2.27 billion by just two for-profit publishers. The Canadian research councils and the US National Science Foundation were allocated US$9.3 billion in that year. The costs of inaction are plain: wasted public funds, lost researcher time, compromised scientific integrity and eroded public trust. Today, the system rewards commercial publishers first, and science second. Without bold action from the funders we risk continuing to pour resources into a system that prioritizes profit over the advancement of scientific knowledge.
November 13, 2025 at 7:29 AM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
In my defence, it's what the voters want...
starlingdust.bsky.social Starling @starlingdust.bsky.social · 27d
pathfinder update: one of the party is running for office in Axis, the lawful neutral outer plane, with a 'tough on birds' campaign
October 29, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
copim.bsky.social
Registration for #CopimConference is now LIVE 🚀

Our FREE 2--day hybrid event will bring together the people and projects shaping the future of equitable, community-driven #OpenAccess book publishing

📆 26-27 February 2026
📍 Loughborough University | London [or online]
🔗 buff.ly/DhtaOAJ
October 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
subpop.bsky.social
5 years of @clppng.bsky.social's Visions of Bodies Being Burned!
“Like the films of Jordan Peele or Bong Joon Ho, Clipping uses speculative fiction to reflect the cruelty of contemporary reality.” - NYT
October 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
copim.bsky.social
We're nearing the end of International #OAWeek 2025! But there's still lots in the diary 📆

Check out our curated list of events we think will be of interest to #CopimCommunity

👉 buff.ly/g7YE1jM

1/5
Who Owns Our Knowledge? International Open Access Week 2025 - Copim
International Open Access Week is organised by SPARC in partnership with the Open Access Week Advisory Committee. It was founded in 2008 by SPARC and partners…
buff.ly
October 23, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
openingthefuture.bsky.social
Hi 👋

Did you know that members pay a small annual fee to get DRM-free, unlimited access to a closed selection of the @ceu-press.bsky.social backlist, with perpetual access after three years 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣

Find out more 👉 ceup.openingthefuture.net
October 21, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
copim.bsky.social
INCENTIVE @kirahopkins.bsky.social will be sharing more about #CopimCompass 🧭

🔗 copim.pubpub.org/pub/introduc...
October 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
Lots going on this OA week with Copim and elsewhere - see below for a comprehensive list of events, including this afternoon's @oipassoc.bsky.social symposium! Also nested is my OA week interview (mostly in the form of a rant on collective funding and the issues it faces...)
copim.bsky.social Copim @copim.bsky.social · Oct 21
Who Owns Our Knowledge? It's International Open Access Week 2025! 😍

Have a look at our webpage which features a curated list of events we think will be of interest to the #CopimCommunity and interviews with the team

🔗 buff.ly/r8pRBZD

#OAWeek

1/4
Who Owns Our Knowledge? International Open Access Week 2025 - Copim
International Open Access Week is organised by SPARC in partnership with the Open Access Week Advisory Committee. It was founded in 2008 by SPARC and partners…
buff.ly
October 21, 2025 at 8:16 AM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
Looking forward to participating, and to the two other papers during this panel!
copim.bsky.social Copim @copim.bsky.social · Oct 20
Featuring @kirahopkins.bsky.social @alittleroad.bsky.social on Panel D

👉 Advancing Open Access Books through Community-Driven Collaboration
forumforopen.bsky.social FORM @forumforopen.bsky.social · Oct 20
Thank you for joining us in Panel A & Panel B!

After a short break, join us at 11:30 am GST for our next virtual consecutive panels.

Panel C: The Hidden Costs of Openness
Panel D: Encouraging Open Access Advocacy

Register to gain access to the panels now! shorturl.at/EmHeT
October 20, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
openbookcollective.bsky.social
1/ We are extremely happy to announce that Edizioni Ca’ Foscari (ECF), or Venice University Press, has joined the Open Book Collective, taking the total number of publisher members to 15. ECF is a fully #OpenAccess publisher openbookcollective.pubpub.org/pub/edizioni...
Edizioni Ca' Foscari Joins the Open Book Collective
openbookcollective.pubpub.org
October 17, 2025 at 10:25 AM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
Not a good look from the publisher here - yes the book is still freely accessible on JSTOR and OAPEN, but on the publisher site the only option is to buy an ebook - or even better to rent it....
October 2, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
openresshef.bsky.social
🔊 Vacancy: Open Research Manager, University of Sheffield Library (full-time, open-ended). The role will involve supporting projects across Sheffield and nationally with the @ukrepro.bsky.social to accelerate open research practices. Closing date 22 October: jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Open-Res...
Open Research Manager
Open Research Manager
jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk
September 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
We're delighted by Lafayette's decision to support Michigan State University Press' goals around OA book publishing.

Their investment in MSUP's Opening the Future programme will enable the Press to publish more of its African & Diaspora Studies frontlist openly, without charging authors fees.
copim.bsky.social Copim @copim.bsky.social · Sep 18
Lafayette College becomes first @openingthefuture.bsky.social member with MSU Press 🥳🎉

Read more about the announcement on the OtF website 👉 buff.ly/L7CVkS6

#OAbooks #OpenAccess #OA
Opening the Future
Posted by Tom Grady on Sept. 17, 2025 at 1529
msup.openingthefuture.net
September 19, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
alittleroad.bsky.social
I'll be speaking online at the #FORM4Open conference on Monday 20 October, on 'Advancing Open Access Books through Community-Driven Collaboration' with my @copim.bsky.social colleague @kirahopkins.bsky.social.

Looking forward to kicking off #OAWeek with an excellent conversation!
A card that says 'I am speaking at the 4th Annual Forum for Open Research, 20-23 October 2025'
September 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
punctumbooks.bsky.social
Super awesome job working in Diamond OA. #OpenAccess #jobs
July 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
copim.bsky.social
JOB OPPORTUNITY! 📢

Join @openbookcollective.bsky.social as Community Engagement Lead

More info online ▶️
Open Position: Community Engagement Lead (full time) at Open Book Collective
Looking for a colleague interested in helping the Open Book Collective advocate for and deliver a more sustainable and equitable future for Open Access book publishing
buff.ly
July 21, 2025 at 8:29 AM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
Really glad that my colleagues at @thoth-metadata.bsky.social are finalists for the ALPSP innovation award - it's well deserved! Thoth's infrastructure is foundational. After all, increasing the amount of scholarship published openly is only useful if they are findable!
thoth-metadata.bsky.social Thoth Open Metadata @thoth-metadata.bsky.social · Jul 9
We are truly honoured to have received a finalist nomination for the 2025 @alpsp.bsky.social Award for Innovation in Publishing 2025! #MetadataMatters #openinfrastructure #OAbooks

Hannah and Toby just gave their presentation to the ALPSP panel, and we'll know more in about 2 months' time ...
badge reading "ALPSP Award for Innovation in Publishing 2025 - Finalist"
July 10, 2025 at 7:19 AM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
Thank you @forumforopen.bsky.social it was a pleasure to participate and talk about the history, finance, and infrastructure of OA books!

Always happy to do so, and if anyone reading this has any questions from the webinar we didn't get to, please don't hesitate to get in touch!
forumforopen.bsky.social FORM @forumforopen.bsky.social · Jul 8
Live from our workshop🔵

Learning more about the aims and ethos of the @openbookcollective.bsky.social with @kirahopkins.bsky.social and @kjsanders.bsky.social 👇

#OpenScience #OpenAccess #DiamondOA #ScholComm
July 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
forumforopen.bsky.social
📢One week to go!
Don't forget to register for the workshop led by @kjsanders.bsky.social & @kirahopkins.bsky.social as they explore some of the unique considerations for #OpenAccess books in #OpenScience 📖

🔗Register here: shorturl.at/exbqY
July 2, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
emmabooth.bsky.social
Save the date: "We Are Enough: Practical Open Access for Everyone" panel session as part of #OAweek 2025 at @pennstateuniv.bsky.social Libraries with @samuelmoore.org @sarahlamdan.bsky.social and @petersuber.bsky.social
Oct 23rd 2025 4PM in the UK
psu.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Open%2...
June 27, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
openbookcollective.bsky.social
The @copim.bsky.social team are at stand D07 for all discussions on and around community-led open access books :) #bibliocon25
Left to right: Kevin Sanders (Open Book Collective), Tobias Steiner (Thoth Open Metadata), Sebastiano Sali, Jordy Findanis (OAPEN), Kira Hopkins (Opening the Future) at stand D07 at 9th Bibliothekskongress, Bremen
June 26, 2025 at 8:04 AM
kirahopkins.bsky.social
Join us! #bid25 #bibliothekskongress
oapenbooks.bsky.social OAPEN Foundation @oapenbooks.bsky.social · Jun 26
Another day exhibiting at #bibliothekskongress

Not managed to meet with us yet? We'll be at booth D07 again today - find us using the exhbition map: buff.ly/SisZgYB

Alternatively, join us at #CopimCorner this evening! Details in the image below 👇

#bid25 #bibliothekenentschlossendemokratisch
June 26, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
sparcopen.bsky.social
“Who Owns Our Knowledge?” is the theme for this year’s International Open Access Week. The 2025 theme asks a pointed question about the present moment and how, in a time of disruption, communities can reassert control over the knowledge they produce #OAweek www.openaccessweek.org/theme
Theme — International Open Access Week
www.openaccessweek.org
June 25, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Kira Hopkins
emmabooth.bsky.social
Joining @uklibrariesnag.bsky.social and @copim.bsky.social for this webinar "Beyond Buying Books: Rethinking Content Acquisitions in Unstable Times"
Does #openaccess offer an alternative to closed content, and can we sustain and develop equitable models to achieve it?
📚🔓🧵
uklibrariesnag.bsky.social National Acquisitions Group (NAG) @uklibrariesnag.bsky.social · Jun 16
Free webinar next week!
Copim and acquisitions librarians present… Beyond buying books: Rethinking content acquisition in unstable times
Wed 25th June 2pm
Free and open to everyone; recording available OA after event.
nag.org.uk/event/rethin...
@copim.bsky.social
Copim and acquisitions librarians present… Beyond buying books: Rethinking content acquisition in unstable times Wed 25th June 2pm https://nag.org.uk/event/rethinking/ Graphic of a pile of precariously balanced rocks in NAG and Copim colours.
June 25, 2025 at 1:03 PM