Open Letter Addressed to Finnish Minister of Science and Culture Regarding Frontiers Journals

December 6, 2024 - Frontiers Communications

An open letter has been published today on openletter.earth, highlighting concerns from researchers in Finland regarding a recent decision made by JUFO, the Finnish Publication Forum, to downgrade Frontiers journals. The letter, available in both English and Finnish, outlines significant apprehensions about the implications of this action for the Finnish scientific community.

Concerns Over JUFO's Decision

The open letter, addressed to Sari Multala, Finland's Minister of Science and Culture, and the JUFO steering group, articulates a collective discontent among researchers. The authors of the letter assert that JUFO's announcement lacks clarity and is insufficiently supported by evidence, suggesting that it contradicts the principles outlined in the Declaration for Open Science 2020 – 2025, published by the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies in 2019. This declaration emphasizes the importance of openness as a core value within the research community.

Experiences with Frontiers

The signatories, many of whom have contributed to Frontiers as authors or editors, argue that their experiences do not corroborate JUFO's negative assessment. They claim that Frontiers' processes and peer review standards are at least comparable to those of traditional academic publishers. The letter highlights Frontiers' responsive nature to community feedback and its commitment to disseminating research openly to the public, including taxpayers who finance research efforts.

Impact on Researchers

The hurried decision by JUFO is described as detrimental to Finnish researchers who continue to publish with Frontiers. The authors of the letter express their disagreement about the claim that JUFO's decision reflects the consensus of the Finnish scientific community, as there has been a lack of disclosed feedback from researchers, making it difficult to validate this assertion.

Call for Transparency and Dialogue

In their correspondence, the authors urge Minister Multala and the JUFO steering group to reassess their evaluations, advocating for an approach grounded in transparency and factual evidence. They emphasize that journal assessments should be based on clear, measurable criteria and that any feedback considered should be shared openly to facilitate constructive discussions within the academic community.

Next Steps

The letter concludes with a call for action, encouraging other researchers to join in signing the letter to express their support and stance on the matter.

The full English and Finnish versions of the open letter can be accessed on the openletter.earth website, where concerned parties can also add their signatures in support of this important initiative.

Authors of the Letter

Signatories of the letter include notable figures in academia, such as:

  • Dr. Ruslan Kalendar, University of Helsinki, Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science.
  • Professor Ali Mobasheri, University of Oulu, an editorial leader in various publications.
  • Dr. Simo Vanni, University of Helsinki.
  • Professor Jarek Kurnitski, Aalto University, among others.

For those who wish to lend their voice to this cause, signing information is provided within the letter.

This communication is significant not only for Finnish researchers but also serves as a reflection of the ongoing discussions surrounding open science and the role of academic publishers in fostering transparent and accessible research practices.