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SSP Striking a Balance: Embracing Change While Preserving Tradition in Scholarly Communications
The Society for Scholarly Publishing promotes and advances communication among all sectors of the scholarly publication community through networking, information dissemination and events. May 31st marks its 39th annual meeting to be held in Boston, Massachusetts.
This year’s theme, Striking Balance: Embracing Change While Preserving Tradition in Scholarly Communications, will focus on the challenges faced by scholarly publishing. Globalization and advancing technologies are disrupting the industry in different ways – only those willing to adapt are able to capitalise on new opportunities and find new frontiers. But, it is important to appreciate the core values developed over many years in scientific and academic publishing. This year, in Boston, publishers, academics, librarians and vendors will come together to debate and discuss how to utilize new technologies and opportunities to create innovative business models while remaining true to their core values and continuing to distribute quality scholarly content.
When: May 31 – June 2, 2017
Where: Westin Boston Waterfront
Boston, Massachusetts
Digital Science has staff attending from many of our portfolio companies – Overleaf Cofounder John Hammersley and Digital Science’s Director of Publishing Innovation Phill Jones are speaking at various events. Details can be found below:
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
John Hammersley
Seminar 4: Innovation in Scholarly Book Publishing: What Have We Achieved and What More is Needed?
12:30pm to 3:30pm
This seminar will provide an update on recent innovations in scholarly book publishing, and a look ahead to future developments through a combination of lightning talks, presentations, and small group activities.
Speakers will provide an overview of the current structure in scholarly book publishing and new author tools and services; discuss open access as a business model for books and will identify opportunities to improve recognition for peer review of books and examine some new approaches to increasing discoverability and usage. Participants will then work in groups to predict what the academic book of future will look like and how it will be used. The seminar will end with a presentation by Alex Humphreys of JSTOR on Reimagining the Monograph.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 
Phill Jones
Sponsored Session: Jack Farrell & Assoc: Let’s Talk About the Job Market: Hiring Practices, Early Career Professionals, and Promoting Diversity
2:30pm to 3:15pm
Phill Jones will comment on his experiences of bringing in and nurturing new talent in the scholarly communications industry. Phill and a selection of other speakers will also discuss how they make hiring decisions, how they develop and influence early career professionals, and how to make more diverse and inclusive hires.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Concurrent 2A: Walking with Giants: How the Changing Role of Publishers is Shaping New Agendas for University and Society Presses
Altmetric’s Director of Business Development Sarah Rouhi will be moderating this session.
The role of the publisher in the scholarly ecosystem is changing rapidly, from a venue to streamline publication to a one-stop shop for researchers who want to advance in their field. In this session, we’ll hear case studies from several organizations who have taken up this challenge, and from librarians who work with them. Participants will share insights into how the changes they are making align with their strategic goals and values, and well then invite the audience to discuss the challenges they are facing. Speakers will pose some statements and suggested opportunities for development which attendees will be invited to respond to.
2:00pm to 3:30pm
Mike Taylor
Concurrent 2D: Defining Impact: Views from Across the Research Ecosystem
Definitions of impact in the research ecosystem are complex and multi-faceted. What are important signals of impact? How do organizations surface these signals? Which metrics matter when defining success for researchers, publishers, and other organizations across the research ecosystem? This panel will explore new opportunities to increase visibility, discoverability, and the impact of research.
2:00pm to 3:30pm
Friday, June 2, 2017
Betsy Donohue 
Plenary: Previews Session – New and Noteworthy Product Presentations
9:00am to 10:30am
The Previews Session is designed to offer attendees the chance to hear and learn about the newest and most innovative products, platforms, and/or content affecting our industry. Speakers will be organized in a lightning round format with each organization allotted 5 minute, back-to-back presentations.
Phill Jones
Closing Plenary: Dessert Course: A Debate with the Scholarly Kitchen Chefs
Phill and the Scholarly Kitchen Chefs will come together to have a wide-ranging discussion picking up on the themes presented throughout this year’s annual meeting and looking to the future and the changing roles of publishers, libraries, and research societies.
3:30pm to 4:45pm
If you would like to meet our team then come to BOOTH NUMBER #103.
Digital Science and the SSP Mentorship Program
The SSP Mentorship Program is designed to provide an opportunity for professionals at all career levels to develop new relationships, share experiences, and learn from others outside their organizations by connecting with a mentor. It provides an excellent opportunity for experienced publishing professionals to pass on the torch and usher in the new generation of scholarly professionals. Mentors and mentees apply online to become part of the program. Each mentorship cohort will last 5 months with two mentorship cohorts offered in each 12 month period.
Adrian Stanley, our Vice President of Publisher Business Development and the new president-elect of SSP, will be meeting with the new mentees at SSP. Phill Jones and Altmetric’s Sara Rouhi are also mentors to the new group of the SSP Fellowship winners. Adrian commented on the SSP mentorship program:
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting all the new and old SSP Fellows, and the new mentees recently accepted into the SSP Mentoring Pilot. Most importantly, I’d like to personally thank all those dedicated and experienced members who have signed up to be mentors and who will help support our evolving and diverse community.”
Digital Science is looking forward to meeting all of you at SSP’s annual meeting and if you’ve never attended SSP, watch this video to get a taste of what is to come!
