The strong in-person participation underscored the significance of the event, which extended beyond a formal awards presentation to become a meaningful platform for sharing the passion, purpose, and value of academic research.

Makoto Yuasa, Chief Growth Officer, Research Solutions at Cactus Communications, attended the ceremony to personally congratulate the recipients. In his remarks, he commended the awardees for their perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and experimental spirit, highlighting how these qualities enabled them to excel in a competitive selection process.

A Rigorous Five-Month Selection Process

Following the success of last year’s initiative, the 2^nd 2025 Editage Grant program was once again designed to support emerging researchers at a critical stage of their academic journey. The selection process spanned approximately five months, comprising a first-round document and essay review, followed by second-round video interviews. Applicants demonstrated exceptional originality, research maturity, and commitment to addressing real-world challenges, while also showcasing the diversity and depth of their respective fields.

Introduction of 2025 Grant Recipients

This year’s ten recipients proposed research projects across areas such as artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, industrial safety, materials science, and food research. Their work was recognised for its scalability and potential social impact. A total grant amount of 27 million won was awarded to ten recipients this year.

Third Prize Recipients

• Park Ye-in: Industrial Safety AI Agent
• Hashimi Shervin: Sustainable Hygiene Pre-Implementation Tool
• Kim Tae-wi: Multimodal AI Agent for Medical Applications
• Ji Seong-hwan: Digital Frailty Monitoring System
• Lee Ji-eun: Research on Regional Specialty Bakery Products

Second Prize Recipients

• Lee Na-eun: Overcoming Technical Barriers for Urine-Based STI Diagnosis
• Park Sang-yoon: Digital Therapeutics for Temporomandibular Disorders
• Jeong Deok-jong: System Resilience Research Through Financial AI Convergence
• Park Ji-soo: Digital Healthcare Applications in Neurorehabilitation

First Prize Recipient

• Kwon Oh-hyun: Design of Electrolytes Responsive to Localized Stress

Supporting Researchers at the Start of Their Journey

The award ceremony also highlighted the challenges faced by researchers at the beginning of their careers. Recognising that the early stage of a research journey is often the most demanding, Editage remains committed to providing practical support to emerging researchers and help them conduct early experiments, grow within their fields, and connect with peers and mentors.

The Editage Grant program intends to serve not only as financial support but also as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and long-term academic development.

All ten winners are contributing innovative knowledge in their respective disciplines, addressing pressing social and scientific challenges that will shape the future, in line with Editage’s mission to empower researchers drive meaningful change.

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The academic world has made strides in recognizing gender disparities, yet women continue to face challenges that impede their engagement with conferences. Issues ranging from caregiving responsibilities to subtle biases persist, creating a disparity in representation and limiting the diverse perspectives that conferences thrive on. It is incumbent upon research societies to champion inclusivity, acknowledging the critical need for diverse voices in shaping the future of academia.

This infographic explores concrete strategies to dismantle barriers and enhance the participation of women in academic conferences. Embracing these measures not only amplifies the contributions of women in academic spheres but also fosters a more robust and equitable scholarly community.

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The formal training that all research students go through falls short of equipping them for the full spectrum of a skills that a career in science entails. Mentors bridge this gap, providing crucial guidance in management, finance, communication, networking, and more. They also inspire, offer scientific guidance, and introduce their mentees to valuable collaborations, ultimately enhancing student outcomes and retention.

However, finding the perfect one-size-fits-all mentor is often a challenge. Students and early career researchers, with their unique strengths and needs, benefit from a tapestry of mentors with diverse perspectives and insights, through interactions that can range from brief encounters to lifelong partnerships. Finding mentors who perfectly matches a scholar’s needs can be challenging, especially within their home institution or local area.

Research societies, with their vast pool of experts, can bridge these gaps by matching inexperienced researchers with experienced mentors from across the globe. Furthermore, research societies hold significant influence in the form of sponsorship opportunities like visibility, awards, leadership roles, and visiting professorships. This power presents a unique opportunity to reshape how mentorship and sponsorship are handled in STEM research.

By engaging equity-centered networks and fostering a culture of mentorship within disciplines, research societies can drive large-scale, inter-institutional change. And it is all a strategic investment considering that the organization benefits too. Investing in these mentoring programs unlocks a multitude of benefits for scientific associations, boosting member experience, fostering intra-society collaboration, strengthening diversity and outreach efforts, ultimately fortifying the discipline and enhancing their brand image.

Strategies to Attract Mentors

Craft evidence-based mentorship programs with structured frameworks

Mentorship scopes and program structures can differ with respect to objectives, career stages, and durations, communication channels, etc. Existing programs illustrate this diversity – take for instance ICC’s six-month initiative or the Botanical Society of America’s travel and mentorship awards or the Society for Mucosal Immunology’s three-year scientist pairings. Ultimately, the society’s unique objectives and resources will help shape the ideal program structure and type.

In fact, offering multiple program types with distinct focuses and formats can attract a broader mentor pool. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), for instance, provides three distinct mentorship options while the German-Syrian Research Society (DSFG) provides many more options.

Regardless of the specifics, however, the core principles should remain constant: measurable outcomes, a structured approach driven by evidence-based practices, and data-driven feedback for continuous evaluation and refinement.

Emphasize the benefits of such programs for mentors

While mentoring offers the intangible satisfaction of inspiring the next generation, ‘paying it forward’, and actually making a difference in someone’s academic life, mentors also do reap tangible benefits. They sharpen their teaching and leadership competencies, hone their communication and interpersonal skills, forge valuable connections through their mentee’s network and potentially attract future collaborators – all while adding that one extra section to their CV.

Incentivize outstanding mentorship through dedicated awards and recognition programs

Mentorship takes serious skills, time, effort, resources, and recognizing and rewarding this can significantly boost motivation and participation. Look to the Orthopaedic Research Society, Research Society on Alcoholism, American Physical Society, and Infectious Diseases Society of America, as a few examples that offer dedicated awards to celebrate exceptional mentors.

Refine existing programs to prioritize effective mentorship

Societies that offer grants could also strive to ensure that all research proposals that involves training students or researchers include a robust and evaluated mentoring plan as part of the proposal.

Implement targeted outreach initiatives

Amplifying the program’s visibility through email newsletters, strategic website advertising, engaging social media campaigns, and leveraging professional networks, can attract qualified mentors. Furthermore, empowering past mentees to in turn become mentors who can offer support and expertise to their juniors or near-peers, facilitates a self-sustaining ecosystem of guidance. In fact, dedicating a team to oversee the program with roles that include cultivating relationships and engaging with prospective mentors can help expand the reach.

Fostering a Supportive Ecosystem for Mentorship

Recruiting new mentors is crucial, but retaining existing ones ensures program sustainability. Optimizing the entire mentorship experience is thus vital.

Matching well: Pairing mentors and mentees based on compatibility, research interests, and personality fosters effective and satisfying collaborations. For minorities, teaming up mentor-mentees from similar backgrounds can further enhance the experience.

Cultivating a culture: Embedding mentorship within the research society, extolling its value, encouraging participation, and making it integral to the society’s identity, sustains the ecosystem.

Equipping mentors: Offering dedicated training resources, like American Society of Nephrology and American Psychological Association do, or even collaborating with other institutes that provide this (such as CIMER) can improve the mentorship experience for the mentor and the protegee. For instance, leveraging CIMER’s expertise, the American Physical Society launched an initiative called Advancing Graduate Leadership to propel women and non-binary postdocs into physics leadership roles. Such training should also include modules on safe and inclusive relationship building, and navigating power dynamics and biases.

Continuous improvement: A reliable feedback system that assesses and informs program adjustments can ensure a thriving mentorship ecosystem. Funding bodies could also incentivize mentorship by incorporating it into grant proposals, encouraging senior researchers to mentor early-career colleagues.

Conclusion and Future Directions

Mentoring in STEM is a high-stake, potent, relationship, with the potential to make or break a student’s career in science. A positive mentoring interaction can help mentees see themselves through the eyes of experienced mentors, find their place in the academic landscape, and chart a confident course for the next stage in their careers. Yet, despite its profound impact, mentorship often receives less focused attention, evaluation, and recognition than other academic responsibilities like teaching or research. This critical role should not be left to chance or unmethodical implementation. Research societies are uniquely positioned to step in and cultivate a thriving mentorship ecosystem, ensuring that every promising STEM mind has access to the support they deserve. And it would be a gamechanger for all research societies to capitalize on this immense potential. 

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A brief introduction to university research commercialization

In 1980, the Bayh–Dole Act was passed by the United States federal government, permitting the universities and non-profit organizations to retain title to inventions made with federal funding and to license it to others. This act promoted research commercialization by giving these entities the ability to profit from their innovations and encouraged private investment in research. In response, many universities in the USA set up technology transfer offices (TTOs), or technology licensing offices (TLOs) to manage their intellectual property (IP) and promote effective technology commercialization. Since then, the Bayh–Dole model has spread to universities and institutes worldwide, particularly in the Global North.

How can universities support patenting?

Setting up a technology transfer office

An effective TTO/TLO is vital to any patenting strategy. These offices not only manage the transfer of technology from universities and research institutions to the private sector, but also provide vital guidance for the institution and research personnel to realize effective patent commercialization. Furthermore, they also handle legal matters concerning IP, including patent applications, litigation, and transferring royalties to the parties concerned.

Royalty sharing

Royalty sharing between universities and researchers stimulates innovation by financially incentivizing research. Royalty sharing initiatives allow researchers to pursue commercially relevant research. Furthermore, royalty sharing can increase collaboration, as the promise of sharing royalties may make researchers more willing to share ideas, since they will all benefit from any commercial success. Finally, royalty sharing can encourage researchers to seek more patent protection, such as applying for international patents to maximize their commercial potential. In short, royalty sharing is an obvious win-win that should be part of any patenting strategy.

Establishing a university startup incubator

Technology startups provide lucrative opportunities to commercialize cutting-edge research findings. Harvard University, for one, has an impressive roster of startups that harness innovations from a range of scientific fields. While we all dream of investing in “the next big thing,” establishing a patenting culture can form part of a broader commercialization strategy to spin off companies that realize groundbreaking new services and products. Founding an incubator is a large undertaking that requires planning and strategy, so research is key. The article “So, you want to start a startup incubator or accelerator?,” penned by a student who successfully launched his own startup incubator, provides some interesting reading.

Build awareness of patenting

An informal survey published in Forbes in 2012 yielded surprising results. Among 60 graduate engineering students at UCLA, 68% could not answer the question, “what is a trade secret?” Meanwhile, 21%, 32%, and 51% were unable to provide an answer to what patents, copyrights, and trademarks are, respectively.

While this small survey is probably not representative, it’s nonetheless surprising that these students had little awareness of IP and why it is relevant to their own work. If researchers do not understand these concepts, they may struggle to understand what is patentable and fail to disclose such discoveries at a critical time.

Fortunately, the World Intellectual Property Organization has provided many resources on raising awareness of IP. While many of these resources are aimed at school-age children, this page also provides a six-step plan for building an awareness strategy and numerous examples of campaigns.

See also: Crafting a Patent Communication Strategy: Tips for Universities

Examples of patenting done right

India

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have had considerable success in commercializing their research and protecting their IP. One such example is IIT Bombay, which has successfully licensed technologies through its TTO and established close industry relationships. Institutional support for technology transfer, strong industry connections, government support and developed alumni networks have allowed IITs to be successful in commercializing their research and protecting their IP.

See also: Patents and the Intellectual Property Rights Ecosystem at Indian Universities

Japan

The University of Tokyo, better known as Todai in Japan, has a history of successful patenting, including in biotechnology, information technology, and materials science. In recent years, Todai publishes an average of 600 patents annually and has successfully launched major investment funds to capitalize on Todai-affiliated spinoffs, such as Citadel AI. Likewise, the University of Kyoto has similar initiatives for their range of patents. Overall, Japan’s public universities have a proven track record of successful patenting and robust commercialization strategies.

South Korea

In the 20^th century, South Korea transitioned from a developing country to a global leader for innovation, recently being recognized as East Asia’s leading innovator ahead of Japan and China. One detailed analysis of technology transfer in Korean public institutions found that successful technology transfer relies more on promoting application research by offering incentives for patent registration and increasing support for researchers’ startups. These strategies have been successfully applied at Seoul National University (SNU), Korea’s most reputable university, which has a strong focus on technology transfer and has established successful high-tech startups at the SNU Campus Town with the help of the SNU Entrepreneurship Center. The university’s Research & Development Board Foundation has overseen successful commercialization of technologies with generous revenue sharing incentives.

Conclusion

A solid patenting strategy can be profitable for institutions and researchers, stimulate basic and applied research, launch new business ventures, and improve your institution’s reputation. In short, an effective patenting culture can benefit all involved.

Learn strategies to promote awareness of patenting in your university and to spur innovation through patents. Download this whitepaper.

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On the bright side, in recent years, open and candid discussions about mental health issues have become increasingly prevalent, and organizations are acknowledging their roles in assisting members or employees in maintaining their mental health. Academic societies are recognizing the importance of addressing mental health concerns among their members, implementing various initiatives to provide support and resources. By prioritizing researcher mental health, academic societies can help create a more supportive and inclusive environment that encourages collaboration and innovation.

Why academic societies should be invested in researcher mental health

Mental well-being safeguards creativity, productivity, and efficiency. Researcher mental health is therefore an important facet that guarantees that researchers contribute meaningfully to academia. It is worth noting that the mental health crisis has repercussions on the academic community as a whole, which may take the form of decreased productivity and even attrition, ultimately translating into a loss of valuable talent.

Mental health is a social responsibility. Researchers deserve to work in an environment that respects their dignity, autonomy, and diversity. They should have access to resources and support that promote their mental health and well-being. They should also be able to seek help without fear of stigma or discrimination.

Academic societies can serve as effective catalysts to mobilize change and foster a culture conducive to the mental health of their members. This not only benefits the researchers themselves but also enhances the reputation and impact of the academic society and the quality of research it produces. For researchers to thrive both personally and professionally, academic societies can implement strategies and support systems to address the mental health needs of their members.

Recent initiatives by academic societies to improve members’ mental health

Thanks to the heightened awareness of mental health challenges today, research societies are advocating for policies and practices that protect and enhance researchers’ mental health and well-being. Here are some inspiring examples.

Mental health workshops and webinars

Many societies offer workshops and webinars on topics related to mental health, such as stress management, resilience building, and work–life balance.

·         American Nurses Association (ANA): Nurses and nursing researchers work in high-stress environments and are prone to mental health issues due to stress and burnout. Recognizing that mental health is an essential part of nurses’ well-being, the ANA launched the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (HNHN) program, which encompasses actions in six domains, one of which is mental health. HNHN initiatives include webinars and presentations.

• American Physical Society (APS): The APS routinely holds networking meetings for members to share experiences; build relationships; and discuss equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. Last year, one of the sessions of the meeting was on navigating burnout, and this year, the March meeting included a Mental Health Roundtable for those dealing with mental health issues to interact with others and to discuss challenges and further steps.
• American Chemical Society (ACS): The ACS runs a Changing the Culture of Chemistry series, within which a webinar discussing Mental Health in the Lab was offered.

Mental health awareness campaigns

Some societies run campaigns on mental health awareness and healthy practices. For example, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) holds public health campaigns, many of them catering to mental health issues. One such example is the Scroll Free September campaign to motivate people to have a healthier relationship with social media.

Empowering members to drive change

When society members are given a voice, they can serve as change-makers at the society level, influencing the academic landscape in a particular field. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) offers Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowships and Young Ambassador programs. Such initiatives can galvanize underrepresented researchers to come forward and share their mental health challenges with confidence. One such Future Leaders Mentorship Fellow and ASM Young Ambassador, Samantha Avina, hosts workshops to encourage young scientists to hone their interpersonal skills and be open to having difficult conversations.

Mental health resources

Some societies offer resources on mental health, including articles, videos, and toolkits, which members can access online. For example, under the HNHN, ANA members can access mental health blogs, presentations, a series about nurse suicide in the American Nurse Journal, and even a nurse suicide prevention/resilience website. HNHN offers members free access to a 1-year subscription to Headspace PLUS, which promotes meditation, healthy sleep, mindful eating, etc.

Envisioning change and implementing innovative steps to address the mental health crisis in academia

There are a number of ways by which academic societies can make a mark in promoting mental health among their members.

Societies can set up mentoring or support programs, where experienced members offer guidance and support to those facing mental health challenges. Surveys may be conducted to assess the mental health needs of members, and the data may be used to tailor various initiatives and resources accordingly. Societies can collaborate with mental health organizations to provide members with expert guidance and support, e.g., counseling services or helplines.

Academic societies can advocate for policies and practices that address systemic issues that negatively impact researcher mental health. They can push for better job security, more equitable funding opportunities, and more inclusive hiring practices. Academic societies can collaborate with universities, funding agencies, and government bodies to promote researcher mental health and well-being. They can share best practices, resources, and data to develop evidence-based policies and programs that benefit researchers.

The specific programs and resources offered can vary from one society to another, depending on the size, resources, and member needs. For societies that are yet to embrace these trends, it all begins with taking that first step. Take for example the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), which has been actively working on constituting and mobilizing a Mental Health Task Force. The objective is to explore how the SSP can support the well-being of its members, particularly around work-related concerns. Certain practical initiatives to support mental health awareness for SSP members have been earmarked, some of which are being implemented, e.g., disseminating more information on mental health issues through their blog, The Scholarly Kitchen.

To conclude

The alarming rates at which researchers around the world are experiencing depression and anxiety make it amply clear that systemic solutions and support are needed to manage mental health issues. Academic societies are well positioned to take actionable steps against the mental health crisis in academia. In fact, they stand to benefit from such initiatives in the long run. Investing in researcher mental health will yield returns not only by advancing the frontier of knowledge but also by enhancing the sustainability of academic societies.

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See also: The Digital Development of China’s Academic Publishing Industry

Important Cultural Practices in Chinese Academia

The Chinese academic community possesses a rich cultural heritage and distinctive research practices, characterized by three key traits.

(1) Relationship Culture, or Guanxi

In China, personal relationships play a crucial role in all spheres, including scientific research. Cultivating strong relationships is paramount for securing resources and fostering collaboration.

(2) Collectivism

Chinese research culture places a strong emphasis on collectivism, reverence for academic authority, and teamwork. Individual accomplishments are often intertwined with the achievements of the broader research team.

(3) Emphasis on Practical Value

China’s scientific research culture prioritizes practicality and application, with a focus on addressing real-world problems. Consequently, many research endeavors exhibit a strong practical orientation and relevance.

See also: Building an Academic Brand in China: The Importance of Baidu

How Publishers or Journals Have Successfully Leveraged Chinese Cultural Practices

Several international organizations successfully implemented effective collaboration with Chinese academics. Here we will list three examples.

• Springer Nature

Springer Nature supports the Chinese research community through their locally run Chinese website, journals and broader global publishing portfolio, and thus be able to attract more engagement from Chinese researchers. The locally run Chinese journals specifically target Chinese researchers and provide them with a platform to publish their research results. By 2020, Springer Nature recruited 56 editorial and publishing employees across their offices in Beijing and Shanghai. In that way, the local staff members can closely engage with local partners to develop their world-class journals. In addition, they partner with Chinese research institutions to organize academic conferences and training activities to promote collaboration between Chinese and international researchers. Springer Nature provides financial and technical support for research projects of Chinese research institutions and researchers through its funding programs and support projects.

• Elsevier

Elsevier has established a long-term and stable relationship with the Chinese research community by providing publication platforms, collaborative research, academic conferences and training, open access policies, and support for Chinese research projects. Elsevier has launched several initiatives to promote collaboration between Chinese and international researchers. Elsevier has also established many collaborative research projects with Chinese research institutions. For example, Elsevier and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have established the CAS – Elsevier Joint Laboratory to jointly explore and develop new research evaluation methods, and establish a research evaluation system that is more suitable for China’s academic environment.

• Wiley

Wiley has collaborated with Chinese research institutions and published China-based academic journals, such as the Chinese Medical Journal and InfoMat. Wiley also works with Chinese research institutions to support collaborative research projects. These projects span multiple disciplines, such as life sciences and engineering. Additionally, Wiley has collaborated with Chinese research institutions to develop several digital platforms to provide academic resources and services. For example, Wiley has partnered with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to launch Wiley Online Library · China, a comprehensive academic resource platform for Chinese researchers. In addition, Wiley offers digital subscriptions and online learning solutions to meet the information needs of researchers.

See also: WeChat for Academia: 5 Western Publishers Who Have Created an Online Presence in China

Tips for Building a Relationship With Chinese Researchers

In order to build a strong relationship with the Chinese research community, publishers and journals need to consider these key factors:

• Understand the Chinese concept of time and relationships

In China, time is often viewed as more flexible than rigid. So, it’s wise to be flexible with appointment times. Equally important is understanding and respecting the value of relationships within Chinese culture. Building strong interpersonal connections with Chinese researchers is essential. Long-term cooperation thrives on mutual understanding, trust, and open communication.

• Embrace Chinese Collectivism

Chinese research culture places a high emphasis on teamwork and collective achievements. When collaborating with Chinese researchers, respect their collectivist values. Actively engage in team collaborations and cultivate positive working relationships with team members.

• Focus on practicality

Chinese researchers prioritize the practical applications of research results and problem-solving capabilities. Therefore, be attentive to their practical needs, working together to address real-world issues and promote scientific and technological innovation.

• Provide Localized Support

To facilitate productive collaboration with Chinese researchers, ensure you offer an appropriate local academic environment and resources tailored to their requirements. This includes advanced experimental equipment and technical support, a welcoming international academic setting, and a wealth of academic resources and services.

• Encourage International Engagement

Chinese researchers highly value international exchanges and cooperation. By engaging in exchanges and collaborative ventures with foreign researchers, they gain access to a broader range of academic resources and research opportunities. Therefore, actively promote international exchanges and cooperation, offering diverse options and resources for Chinese researchers to expand their global collaborations.

See also: Linkresearcher.Com: A Powerful Tool for Research Dissemination and Strengthening Academic Brands in China

Conclusion

Achieving a strong and fruitful collaboration with the Chinese research community hinges on a profound grasp of their cultural dynamics, such as the concept of guanxi, collectivism, and the practical orientation of Chinese researchers. To excel in such partnerships, international organizations should prioritize several key factors: respecting China’s flexible view of time and the significance of relationships, aligning with China’s values of teamwork and shared accomplishments, addressing the practical requirements of Chinese researchers, offering an appropriate academic environment and necessary resources, and actively fostering international exchanges and cooperation.

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See also: Engaging and Retaining Early Career Researcher Members: Strategies for Academic Societies

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See also: A Spotlight on Progress in DEIA Efforts by Research Societies

Importance of amplifying Indigenous voices in academia

Indigenous peoples are far from monolithic, but many groups have a common history of being marginalized, oppressed, and silenced by colonialism and its legacy. Their knowledge and perspectives have often been dismissed or appropriated by dominant Western or other imperial paradigms, resulting in a lack of representation of Indigenous peoples and respect for their contributions to various fields.

Indigenous peoples have often been investigated in fields such as linguistics, anthropology, and ethnobotany, but this has often been as subjects. Nowadays, more people from Indigenous communities participate actively in research, but their contributions are too often not properly credited properly in studies; part of a problem referred to as “helicopter research.”

Amplifying Indigenous voices in academia is not only a matter of justice and equity, but also a matter of quality and relevance. Indigenous scholars bring valuable insights and solutions to address complex and urgent issues that affect us all, including how to educate others. Their research reflects their values and worldviews, which can challenge and even transform the dominant modes of thinking.

Promoting Indigenous voices in academia can foster more inclusive academic communities that respect different forms of knowledge. We can also create more opportunities for collaboration, and mutual learning between Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, as well as between academia and Indigenous communities.

See also: Breaking Down Barriers: How and Why Research Societies and Publishers Are Embracing Cultural Diversity

Guidelines to follow when communicating research on indigenous peoples

Academic journals and publishers are critical to the dissemination of knowledge. Therefore, they are responsible for ensuring that communication practices are ethical and culturally appropriate.

Publishers must assure that appropriate language is used. This can be done by creating guidelines on language usage with a comprehensive list of stigmatizing or inaccurate terms that should be avoided. Consulting existing style books can be helpful.

While paper authors are often given primacy over the data they present in their manuscripts, it is important to recognize the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples over their knowledge, data, and cultural expressions. Thus, proper acknowledgment and authorship should be offered, and appropriate policies to ensure these rules are followed should be put in place. The CONSIDER statement is a 17-point checklist of guidelines addressing how to report studies on indigenous peoples.

Journals should also encourage and support the submission of manuscripts by Indigenous authors or co-authors, as well as manuscripts that use Indigenous languages. Another valuable way of supporting and including Indigenous scholars is by including citation guidelines for communication from Indigenous knowledge keepers.

Finally, publishers should ensure that Indigenous communities have access to research that concerns them or which they have participated in. Rather than paywalling articles on Indigenous peoples, putting in place an open access policy and appropriately indexing papers can allow Indigenous peoples to reap the benefits of research conducted on their communities.

Disseminating of indigenous knowledge fairly

When Indigenous people share their knowledge, they should expect reciprocity and positive relationships from those disseminating it. Therefore, academic journals and publishers must respect the cultural values, protocols, and preferences of Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous authors or communities should be consulted on how they want their knowledge to be disseminated, who they want to reach, and what impact they want to achieve. The protocols and taboos of Indigenous peoples should be respected at all stages of this process. For example, some Indigenous communities like the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have specific restrictions on reproducing the names and photographs of deceased persons (which Australian journalists, documentary makers, and media are required to follow).

After an article is published, journals or publishers can work with authors to seek feedback from and engage in dialogue with communities about the outcomes and implications of the research. This will help ensure they remain involved in the ongoing conversations about and implications of their traditional knowledge.

Besides traditional journal articles, supporting the development of alternative or complementary platforms or formats, such as podcasts, videos, websites or oral presentations, can help Indigenous knowledge to be communicated more effectively to wider audiences.

Incorporating indigenous perspectives in peer review

Peer review is key to ensuring that academic research is valid and properly presented. However, peer review processes are often influenced by dominant Western norms, standards and expectations that may not be appropriate or relevant for evaluating research on Indigenous peoples. Therefore, academic journals and publishers should incorporate Indigenous perspectives in their peer review. How this should be done remains debated, but research has been conducted on this issue. Some ideas include:

• Invite Indigenous scholars or experts as reviewers or editors who can provide constructive feedback and guidance on the publication. However, it is important to understand the community’s capacity and not overburden them with excessive requests for their time.
• Include a community involvement statement or a validation of community approval.
• Encourage and facilitate dialogue, negotiation and consensus-building between Indigenous communities and stakeholders to address any issues, concerns or disagreements that may arise during the peer review process.
• Provide feedback and recognition to reviewers and editors for their contribution and expertise in reviewing research on Indigenous peoples.
• Let Indigenous communities or organizations determine their own involvement in the process to avoid false representation or tokenism.

Journals and publishers of note

The International Indigenous Policy Journal (IIPJ)

IIPJ is an online, peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research and policy analysis on Indigenous issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. The journal aims to provide a forum for Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, practitioners, and community members to share their knowledge to support evidence-based policy making. IIPJ shared the draft of the Aboriginal chapter of the Tri-Council Policy Statement, which is Canada’s main set of guidelines for ethical research on humans.

AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples

AlterNative is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that publishes research on Indigenous peoples. The journal seeks to “present scholarly research on Indigenous worldviews and experiences of decolonization from Indigenous perspectives from around the world”. AlterNative also has a diverse editorial board of Indigenous or non-Indigenous scholars from various countries and clear guidelines on ethically reporting on Indigenous peoples.

Routledge Studies in Indigenous Peoples and Policy

Routledge, a global publisher of academic books focusing mainly on the humanities and social sciences, has recently began publishing a series of multidisciplinary books on Indigenous studies edited by esteemed academics Jerry P. White and Susan Wingert.

Conclusion

Communicating research on Indigenous peoples requires careful consideration and respect. Academic journals and publishers have a key role and responsibility in ensuring that their practices are culturally appropriate and ethical when publishing and disseminating research on Indigenous peoples. By doing so, they can contribute to amplifying Indigenous voices in academia and promoting the fair and equitable dissemination of Indigenous knowledge.

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See also: Breaking Down Barriers: How and Why Research Societies and Publishers Are Embracing Cultural Diversity

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