Background: ASAPbio (Accelerating Science and Publication in biology) is a global scientist-led organization that promotes transparency and innovation in life science communication, with a focus on preprints and open peer review. Beginning in 2020, ASAPbio introduced a Fellows program with the aim of providing participants with information, tools, and support so they in turn will be equipped to offer guidance on preprint resources within their own communities.
Description: I was the only librarian to be selected as a Fellow in the first cohort of the program, which included primarily biomedical researchers such as postdocs and grad students. There were 26 participants from Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. Over six months, we engaged in monthly sessions that explored different facets of preprints, shared ideas and feedback on how to encourage alternative modes of scientific communication, and worked on small group projects to support what was discussed. During this experience I interacted with scientists and preprint proponents from around the world, gained perspectives on emerging trends in research communication, and learned how to promote concepts still gaining traction. Simultaneously, I was able to enthusiastically advocate for librarians in all of these interactions and open the eyes of some to our role in supporting the research life cycle.
Conclusion: This lightning talk briefly presents my experience as an ASAPbio Fellow. Thanks to this opportunity I was able to achieve two accomplishments: (1) learn more about preprints in a welcoming community, which directly influenced the content of a preprints class I co-teach as well as sparked the idea for an open peer review “something” at my institution (…in progress…) and (2) promote biomedical librarians as valuable assets to the preprints community. For information on ASAPbio, preprints, peer review, and the Fellows program: https://asapbio.org/