Recognizing peer review and all those who referee

Recognized reviewers: Peer Review Week 2016

By Tushna Commissariat

This week, academic publishers all over the world are celebrating peer review and the vital role it plays in the scientific process. Indeed, this week is officially dubbed “Peer Review Week” and this yearly event aims to bring together “individuals, institutions and organizations committed to sharing the central message that good peer review, whatever shape or form it might take, is critical to scholarly communications”. This is the second time the event is being held, and this year’s theme is “recognition for review”.

Peer review is a hot topic in academia today – and despite it being a cornerstone of modern scientific publishing, many feel that the entire process needs a good shake-up. The merits and shortcomings of new reviewing techniques – such as double-blind peer review or open peer review – are being tried, tested and debated. To get up to speed on all these variants, be sure to read our feature “Peer review under the spotlight” from earlier this year, where Physics World‘s Michael Banks weighs up the options. Also take a look at our columnist Robert P Crease‘s view on why he feels peer review works, despite its flaws.

As part of the celebrations, IOP Publishing, which also publishes Physics World, will be hosting a Twitter Q&A on peer review with publishing director Jamie Hutchins on Friday 11.00–12.00 BST.  You can Tweet your questions using #askIOPP or follow the conversation with @IOPPublishing. Also, if you are an early-career researcher and relatively new to the world of reviewing, then take a look at our handy “Introduction to refereeing” guide and the video below on “Top 10 tips for reviewers”. IOP Publishing will also be making a series of announcements through the week, so for news and more tips take a look at IOP Publishing Peer Review Week.