Regius Lecture

This year's lecture

Our round-table panel, convened by Regius Professor of Political Science Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, will discuss whether there is a looming crisis in academic publishing and what can be done about it.

Academic publishing plays an essential role in evaluating research through peer-review and disseminating findings. A crisis in publishing puts us at risk of losing out on benefits from scientific research.

Academic publishing is in many ways a success story, but the current model faces many challenges. Much academic research is locked away behind paywalls and inaccessible to the wider public. Libraries have seen escalating and unsustainable increases in subscription costs.

Requirements for open access can increase public access but also threaten income from subscriptions and shift costs for publishing onto researchers. Increases in submissions and workload for editors and reviewers create challenges for how peer-review is envisioned to work, with less prospects for support as returns from publishing declines.

Current trends threaten to erode the current publishing model and undermine our access to science as a collective good.

An introduction by Regius Professor of Political Science Kristian Skrede Gleditsch will take stock of current challenges to academic publishing and consider possible alternative outcomes and reform.

This will be followed by comments from colleagues at the University of Essex:

• Hannah Crago (Open Research Development Librarian, Library and Cultural Services, University of Essex)
• Dr Brian Phillips (Associate Editor of International Studies Quarterly and Department of Government, University of Essex)
• Dr Sara Polo (Department of Government, University of Essex)

The prepared comments will be followed by open discussion and questions from the audience.

Please join us for a drinks reception following the round-table event. 

Book your ticket now by visiting Eventbrite.

Previous lectures

• 2022: Professor Kristian Gleditsch - 'One with the other? Prediction and Policy?'
• 2021: Professor Roger Pielke (University of Colorado) - "Following the Science? The Use of Science Advice in Policy".

Professor Pielke’s lecture was followed by brief commentaries by two leading experts in science advice and policy: Sir Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and North Essex (since 1992) and Chairman of the Liaison Committee and Dr Camilla Stoltenberg, Director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, a research institute and government agency. The event was chaired by Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, Regius Professor of Political Science, University of Essex.

• 2020: Professor Kristian Gleditsch – Is democracy in decline?’ with co-presenters: Professor Staffan Lindberg, Director, Varieties of Democracy Project, University of Gothenburg; Professor Erin Jenne, Central European University and Professor Jane Green, Co-director British Election Study, Oxford University.
• 2019: Professor Kristian Gleditsch - Inaugural Lecture: ‘An ever more violent world’ with panellists: Professor Kristin Bakke, UCL; Professor Maria Fasli, University of Essex; Professor Nial McKay, University of York and Professor Andrea Ruggeri, University of Oxford.
• 2018: Professor Janet M. Box-Steffensmeier - The Importance of Studying Difference and Change in the Social Sciences
• 2017: Professor Helen Milner - The Politics of Globalization: The World Economy and Domestic Politics
• 2015: Professor Gary King - Reverse-Engineering Censorship in China
• 2014: Professor David Sanders - Britain's attitude towards Europe and the European Union (EU) since 1945

Our Regius Professor

Professor Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, internationally renowned figure in the study of conflict resolution, democratisation and political change, has been appointed as our new Regius Professor of Political Science.

Previously, internationally renowned expert on British politics, Professor David Sanders was appointed the UK's first Regius Professor of Political Science in 2013.

Awarded as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Essex is one of the youngest universities to receive this award, and one of just two UK universities to receive Regius Professorships in social sciences.