Seismica: Open science and community building in a new diamond open access journal
Abstract
Seismica, a new Diamond Open Access journal in Seismology and Earthquake Science, launched in July 2022. One year into production, we have received 90 submissions, published 25 articles and have over 50 works in the pipeline. Seismica is an independent journal, designed and built by a global community of researchers with the aim of making scientific research freely available, with no publication or subscription fees.
Beyond traditional research articles, Seismica publishes an innovative set of peer-reviewed reports including fast reports, null results/failed experiments, software reports, and instrument deployment/field campaign reports. Seismica accepts papers within the very broad scope of fault slip and earthquake source phenomena, earthquake records, imaging the Earth, theoretical and computational seismology, beyond Earth-tectonic applications, techniques and instrumentation, earthquake engineering and engineering seismology, and earthquake education, community engagement, and other social science methods.
The new journal's philosophy was developed through continuous communication among broader community members and strives to be accessible, transparent, respectful, credible, and progressive. In the past year, Seismica has evolved both as a journal and a community dedicated to transparency in science, and supporting not not only open access articles, but also a fully open research process. Seismica addresses community needs by publishing public reviews along with the paper, promoting a fair and unbiased reviewing process while providing an insider look into reviewing that benefits early-career researchers; valuing time and expertise by crediting all contributors to a publication; encouraging preprint sharing; allowing authors to keep the copyright to their work; and helping authors share and promote their research once published.
The need for a Diamond Open Access journal and the necessity to share seismology research for broader community benefits is evident. The successful launch and growth of Seismica in the past year demonstrates that this model is responsive, inclusive and sustainable.