Dan Brockington
LightNews LightNews
banner
danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington
@danbrockington.bsky.social
1.6K followers 310 following 110 posts

ICREA Research Professor at ICTA-UAB. Posts on Open Science; Political Ecology; Data Justice; Conservation; Children's Fiction. More at www.danbrockington.com and www.samtiand.com

Videos
Environmental science 55%
Geography 14%
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Nov 12
Profits from scientific publishing are eye-watering, costing us billions. In ‘The Drain of Scientific Publishing’ (arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820), (building on ‘The Strain of Scientific Publishing’ doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00327) we show how it is harmful – and unnecessary.
The Drain of Scientific Publishing
The domination of scientific publishing in the Global North by major commercial publishers is harmful to science. We need the most powerful members of the research community, funders, governments and ...
arxiv.org

Reposted by Dan Brockington, Mark Lubell

natrevbiodiv.nature.com
Nature Reviews Biodiversity @natrevbiodiv.nature.com · 12d
New online! Environmental data justice is key for developing more effective area-based conservation approaches
Environmental data justice is key for developing more effective area-based conservation approaches
Nature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 27 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-025-00126-wScientists disagree about area-based conservation’s role in addressing biodiversity loss. This Perspective examines how conservation scientists, land systems scientists and political ecologists approach these debates differently and argues that environmental data justice frameworks can bridge epistemic divides, helping researchers to develop more effective and equitable conservation interventions.
dlvr.it

Reposted by Paolo Crosetto

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · 26d
When is publishing just self-promotion? When it is PISS

Once again the geniuses behind 'the Strain' bring new insights and massive data to highlight problematic publishing.

Fight the Strain: shorturl.at/z7XMv
Stop the Drain: shorturl.at/M9rVM
Cleanse the Stain: shorturl.at/sYseu

Chapeau!

Reposted by Dan Brockington, Paolo Crosetto

ferag.bsky.social
Fernán Agüero @ferag.bsky.social · 26d
The Issue with Special Issues: when Guest Editors Publish in Support of Self. arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563

Thanks @hansonmark.bsky.social for putting the effort in documenting this plague.

We need to stop it. #PISS is damaging academia.
The Issue with Special Issues: when Guest Editors Publish in Support of Self
The recent exceptional growth in the number of special issues has led to the largest delegation of editorial power in the history of scientific publishing. Has this power been used responsibly? In thi...
arxiv.org

Reposted by Dan Brockington

icta-uab.bsky.social
ICTA-UAB @icta-uab.bsky.social · 28d
Dinero gastado, tiempo invertido y menos confianza en el sistema: cómo las cuatro grandes editoriales "drenan" la ciencia.

Estudio de @danbrockington.bsky.social ICTA-UAB muestra que priman el beneficio sobre la difusión del conocimiento y distorsionan el sistema.

www.eldiario.es/1_c4840d?utm...
Dinero gastado, tiempo invertido y menos confianza en el sistema: cómo las cuatro grandes editoriales "drenan" la ciencia
La deriva de las últimas décadas ha otorgado el control sobre la ciencia a los grandes grupos editoriales privados, sostiene un estudio que indica que Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley y Taylor & Franc...
www.eldiario.es

Reposted by Dan Brockington

merryrobin.bsky.social
Robin (she/he-ella/él) @merryrobin.bsky.social · Dec 17
I loved learning that she loved nature so much she would carry all those haevy clothes to get there

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Dec 17
Is it just me, or is this video about the wonderful artist Julie Hart Beers incredibly skillful - tender and intimate like the artist herself.

youtube.com/shorts/66hsv...

@metmuseum.org @merryrobin.bsky.social @artherstory.bsky.social @womensart.bsky.social @annaplesset.bsky.social
A Closer Look: “Ducks in the Woods” (1875) by Julie Hart Beers
YouTube video by The Met
youtube.com

Reposted by Dan Brockington

icta-uab.bsky.social
ICTA-UAB @icta-uab.bsky.social · Dec 17
Un estudio señala que las grandes editoriales científicas priorizan su beneficio frente a la ciencia.

Liderado por el investigador del ICTA-UAB @danbrockington.bsky.social

exitoeducativo.net/un-analisis-...

#BraveSienceForAChangingWorld
Un estudio señala que las grandes editoriales científicas priorizan su beneficio frente a la ciencia - ÉXITO EDUCATIVO
Las cuatro principales editoriales, Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley y Taylor & Francis, generaron más de 7.100 millones de dólares en ingresos solo
exitoeducativo.net

Reposted by Dan Brockington

stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca
Stefanie Haustein @stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca · Dec 16
Intense discussion with The Drain authors today about where to submit Part II.. And somehow @lariviev.bsky.social launched the idea of hockey jerseys?! Thanks for your service, ChatGPT. @danbrockington.bsky.social @hansonmark.bsky.social @stephenpinfield.bsky.social @aileenfyfe.bsky.social

Reposted by Garry Peterson

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Dec 16
Here's a really useful blog exploring the difficulties, but pre-eminent need, of taking back control over scientific publishing.

shorturl.at/dNYCV

Understand the Strain: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
Stop the Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
The drain of science: a call for action and the bridges we burned
Commercial academic publishing oligopolies are draining science. Beigel et al. (2025) call for community control, but the Lithuanian case shows this is difficult after dismantling domestic journal pub...
shorturl.at

Reposted by Dan Brockington, Paolo Crosetto

icta-uab.bsky.social
ICTA-UAB @icta-uab.bsky.social · Dec 3
La ciencia bajo el control de las grandes editoriales

Un estudio del ICTA-UAB liderado por @danbrockington.bsky.social revela cómo el sistema de publicación científica prioriza ganancias frente al avance del conocimiento y la integridad académica.

digitum-um.blogspot.com/2025/12/la-c...
La ciencia bajo el control de las grandes editoriales
El dominio de las publicaciones científicas en el Norte Global por parte de las grandes editoriales comerciales es perjudicial para la ciencia.
digitum-um.blogspot.com

Reposted by Dan Brockington

resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Dec 3
Funders ‘hold all the cards’ to reform publishing, say academics.

Paper urges structural changes to stop “drain” of research resources by for-profit publishers.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Dec 3
There are three more days to submit your ideas for papers to #POLLEN2026 panels. The last day is 5th December. We will not be extending the deadline.

Here is the link to send in your submission:
tinyurl.com/yumc2tsx
Call for presentations & posters - POLLEN
The call for presentations and posters is now open until 23:59 CET on Friday 5th December. Before proposing anything, please read the conference rationale & purpose, the rules below, and then browse t...
tinyurl.com

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Dec 3
The best thing to do next April has suddenly become a lot clearer. Looks like a wonderful gathering.
brambuscher.bsky.social Bram Büscher @brambuscher.bsky.social · Dec 2
Please consider joining our 2026 Political Ecology spring school!

Planetary Political Ecologies: Environmental disasters, conflicts and possibilities in & beyond capitalism

▶️ 13-17 April 2026
▶️ Wageningen

With Annah Zhu, Erik Swyngedouw, Sumit Vij & others!

wass.crs.wur.nl/courses/deta...
WASS Courses
Prof. Bram Büscher (Wageningen University) Prof. Robert Fletcher (Wageningen University) Prof. Erik Swyngedouw (Manchester University) Dr. Annah Zhu (Wageningen University)  Dr. Sumit Vij (Wageningen University)
wass.crs.wur.nl

Reposted by Dan Brockington, Patrick A. Jansen, Nik Heynen

brambuscher.bsky.social
Bram Büscher @brambuscher.bsky.social · Dec 2
Please consider joining our 2026 Political Ecology spring school!

Planetary Political Ecologies: Environmental disasters, conflicts and possibilities in & beyond capitalism

▶️ 13-17 April 2026
▶️ Wageningen

With Annah Zhu, Erik Swyngedouw, Sumit Vij & others!

wass.crs.wur.nl/courses/deta...
WASS Courses
Prof. Bram Büscher (Wageningen University) Prof. Robert Fletcher (Wageningen University) Prof. Erik Swyngedouw (Manchester University) Dr. Annah Zhu (Wageningen University)  Dr. Sumit Vij (Wageningen University)
wass.crs.wur.nl

Reposted by Paolo Crosetto

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Dec 1
This is potentially significant. The CNRS are one of the best in the world. Reliance on metrics controlled by private companies is a problem for science. We need the powerful organisatios to take the lead.

Understand the strain: tinyurl.com/2b6wxx5r
Stop the drain: tinyurl.com/3jfscscy

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Dec 1
I was so glad to hear about this project and workshop. This would be my dream ERC project.
ocn-uib.bsky.social ERC Ocean Crime Narratives @ocn-uib.bsky.social · Dec 1
🌊 Exciting news!
We’re thrilled to announce that several of our international keynote speakers have now been confirmed for the upcoming conference "Seas of consequences: Social and Natural Science Narratives on Environmental Harm and Crime at sea". Meet the speakers at: ocn.uib.eu/conference-p...
Foto: Laia Ventayol

Reposted by Dan Brockington, Paolo Crosetto

Reposted by Dan Brockington

ocn-uib.bsky.social
ERC Ocean Crime Narratives @ocn-uib.bsky.social · Dec 1
🌊 Exciting news!
We’re thrilled to announce that several of our international keynote speakers have now been confirmed for the upcoming conference "Seas of consequences: Social and Natural Science Narratives on Environmental Harm and Crime at sea". Meet the speakers at: ocn.uib.eu/conference-p...
Foto: Laia Ventayol

Reposted by Paolo Crosetto

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Nov 30
I know of few people who get the economics of scientific publishing better than @paolocrosetto.bsky.social This thread on the incentives that are driving bad publishing practice is golden.

For the darkly funny side of this see:
the-strain-on-scientific-publishing.github.io/website/post...

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Dorothy Bishop, Dan Brockington , and 5 more

paolocrosetto.bsky.social
Paolo Crosetto @paolocrosetto.bsky.social · Nov 30
Since AI slop is again all over Scientific Reports, a thread on the economics of grey-zone publishing.

Why does slop keep getting published? What does it mean for science? How can we stop this?

Background readings:
Understand the strain: tinyurl.com/2b6wxx5r
Stop the drain: tinyurl.com/3jfscscy
An obviously AI-generated figure with AI slop and fake text all over it, recently published in Scientific Reports.

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Nov 28
This morning was particularly beautiful. Be warned, its a 5 minute video and too big a file to add to a skeet. Sunup 2 mins in.

youtu.be/fuZFqNAbhdc
dawn 28 nov
YouTube video by Dan Brockington
youtu.be

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Nov 27
Here's a typically thoughtful piece from
@anotherbobsmith.bsky.social: the push to generate prioritisations stems from not understanding how they become effective. Are journal editors also culpable, as they have lapped up lots of this science. Why did they think it might help? shorturl.at/Of5h3
Twenty-five years of misinterpreting the biodiversity hotspot approach - Nature Ecology & Evolution
A quarter of a century after its publication, the biodiversity hotspot concept remains one of the most cited and influential frameworks in conservation science. But its real-world impact is poorly doc...
shorturl.at

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Nov 27
Many thanks for this fascinating discussion
stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca Stefanie Haustein @stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca · Nov 26
Yay, our first podcast citation @danbrockington.bsky.social @paolocrosetto.bsky.social et al.
They discuss The Drain starting at minute 33:20 in the context of a protein science journal published by Wiley and also mention @elife.bsky.social. It's introduced as "almost an economics paper" :D

Reposted by Dan Brockington, Paolo Crosetto

stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca
Stefanie Haustein @stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca · Nov 26
Yay, our first podcast citation @danbrockington.bsky.social @paolocrosetto.bsky.social et al.
They discuss The Drain starting at minute 33:20 in the context of a protein science journal published by Wiley and also mention @elife.bsky.social. It's introduced as "almost an economics paper" :D

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Nov 26
@geofrancismasse.bsky.social I gather you are cold. Come here for a swim. You will feel warm and invigorated.

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Nov 26
Another beautiful dawn. Air a but cold, but the water is warm. I think you can see water vapour in the air low over the sea when the air is that much colder than the sea is.

danbrockington.bsky.social
Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · Nov 23
One of the great things about Barcelona - working with the @pollenetwork.bsky.social secretariat: Laila, Ele, Rebecca and Blanket (the cat). Here planning POLLEN comms up the coast in Masnou. We will be recruiting one more person to this team.

Reposted by Dan Brockington

lseblogs.bsky.social
LSE Blogs @lseblogs.bsky.social · Nov 21
Money, Time, Trust, Control – How commercial publishers drain science

@danbrockington.bsky.social @aileenfyfe.bsky.social @stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca for @lseimpactblog.bsky.social
Money, Time, Trust, Control – How commercial publishers drain science - Impact of Social Sciences
Have the interests of commercial publishers now become antithetical to the pursuit of knowledge?
blogs.lse.ac.uk

Reposted by Dan Brockington, Paolo Crosetto

tedmeissner.bsky.social
Ted Meissner @tedmeissner.bsky.social · Nov 20
"The domination of scientific publishing in the Global North by major commercial publishers is harmful to science..."

arxiv.org/pdf/2511.04820

#science #peerreview #scientificmethod #scientificpublishing
arxiv.org