The International Astronomical Union Working Group on Publishing

This talk introduced the IAU Working Group on Publishing (WG Publishing) and sought feedback from the LISA IV participants on which issues should be priority issues for the Working Group. Feedback was also sought on a draft of a new model for publishing the IAU Symposia and Colloquia. The IAU’s mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy through international cooperation. The IAU currently has over 8,700 individual members and 66 adhering country members. The purpose of the WG Publishing is to look at how research results are being, and ought to be, published. Issues on which feedback was sought at the LISA IV meeting include: • After the termination of Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts, can the IAU support some abstracting service with an international scope, in order to encourage the wide awareness of astronomical research from all over the world? • The WG Publishing has been working to promote the adherence to consistent standards of nomenclature and data inclusion in refereed papers • A new proposed model for publishing IAU-sponsored Symposia and Colloquia, based on a journal model and not individual hardcopy conference books • The concentration of astronomical literature into a few core journals • Peer review and the possibility of astronomical journals exploring innovative peer review options such as open reviewing • Archiving. As the presentation was principally a request for feedback and ideas it is not suitable for submission as a formal manuscript. Participants and others who wish to make input to the WG Publishing are encouraged to contact the Chair, Michelle Storey on michelle.storey@csiro.au.