Tim Elfenbein
@timelfen.bsky.social
Principal of Forthcoming LLC, a publishing consultancy; Member of @limnpress.bsky.social editorial collective; Researcher & practitioner of scholarly publishing; Digital explorer–analog sailor; @timelfen@assemblag.es on Mastodon; Victim of meaning.
Pinned
Tim Elfenbein
@timelfen.bsky.social
· Nov 11
To all the folks in scholarly communication/publishing/open science out there:
1. I appreciate the work you do.
2. I likely have significant differences w/ you or your organization over strategic direction, stakeholder orientation, ideals for the future, etc., etc.
3. I appreciate the work you do.
1. I appreciate the work you do.
2. I likely have significant differences w/ you or your organization over strategic direction, stakeholder orientation, ideals for the future, etc., etc.
3. I appreciate the work you do.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Hello Bluesky. I am a cultural and media theorist working across the fields of (book) publishing and digital culture, researching the future of scholarly communications and experimental forms of knowledge production.
January 15, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Hello Bluesky. I am a cultural and media theorist working across the fields of (book) publishing and digital culture, researching the future of scholarly communications and experimental forms of knowledge production.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
A Path Forward for PubPub https://www.knowledgefutures.org/updates/2026-01-update/
A Path Forward for PubPub
Knowledge Futures mission is to make information useful.
www.knowledgefutures.org
January 12, 2026 at 3:27 PM
A Path Forward for PubPub https://www.knowledgefutures.org/updates/2026-01-update/
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Still going. Jump in when you can. I'm currently thinking about @timelfen.bsky.social's note about mourning what was, not trying to recreate something that's past...and finding other avenues to start again.
Great conversation happening here and under the original post!
Don't miss out!
Don't miss out!
Good question. It would be great if we could find some ways to rebuild some of those networks (while also avoiding what happened with Twitter in which it could all be destroyed with a change in ownership). Many anthros are on here...it's a matter of finding/creating ways to bring folks together.
January 15, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Still going. Jump in when you can. I'm currently thinking about @timelfen.bsky.social's note about mourning what was, not trying to recreate something that's past...and finding other avenues to start again.
I’ve finally been able to start reading @samuelmoore.org’s book, which is excellent. Living up to the promise of good humanistic analysis, it’s making sharp conceptual distinctions & providing me w/ better language to describe & understand what I observe in OA publishing.
doi.org/10.3998/mpub...
doi.org/10.3998/mpub...
Publishing Beyond the Market: Open Access, Care, and the Commons
<I>Publishing Beyond the Market</I> argues that the move to open access should focus less on the free accessibility of research outputs and more on who controls the publications and infrastructures fo...
doi.org
January 15, 2026 at 2:44 PM
I’ve finally been able to start reading @samuelmoore.org’s book, which is excellent. Living up to the promise of good humanistic analysis, it’s making sharp conceptual distinctions & providing me w/ better language to describe & understand what I observe in OA publishing.
doi.org/10.3998/mpub...
doi.org/10.3998/mpub...
Wiley, as ever, serving its most important stakeholders, the shareholders.
I’m not implacably against these licenses, but in the current dispensation the scholarly communities that created, vetted, & curated the knowledge aren’t even at the table in these deals.
I’m not implacably against these licenses, but in the current dispensation the scholarly communities that created, vetted, & curated the knowledge aren’t even at the table in these deals.
Wiley create new "Chief AI and Data Services Officer" (CADSO?) to accelerate their content licensing programme www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Wiley Names Inaugural AI Chief
To accelerate its efforts to make more licensing deals with AI developers and other tech companies, Wiley has named Rafat to the newly created position of chief AI and data services officer.
www.publishersweekly.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Wiley, as ever, serving its most important stakeholders, the shareholders.
I’m not implacably against these licenses, but in the current dispensation the scholarly communities that created, vetted, & curated the knowledge aren’t even at the table in these deals.
I’m not implacably against these licenses, but in the current dispensation the scholarly communities that created, vetted, & curated the knowledge aren’t even at the table in these deals.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Check out the new episode of Knowing Me, Knowing UKSG 🎙️In this episode we hear from Dr Samuel Moore (@samuelmoore.org) who discusses his varied career as a Scholarly Communications Specialist, bridging research, open access publishing, and his recently published book. dub.sh/EncwGkc
January 15, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Check out the new episode of Knowing Me, Knowing UKSG 🎙️In this episode we hear from Dr Samuel Moore (@samuelmoore.org) who discusses his varied career as a Scholarly Communications Specialist, bridging research, open access publishing, and his recently published book. dub.sh/EncwGkc
In all seriousness, a time machine.
What would it take to make #AnthroSky what #AnthroTwitter was?
January 15, 2026 at 1:36 AM
In all seriousness, a time machine.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Good question. It would be great if we could find some ways to rebuild some of those networks (while also avoiding what happened with Twitter in which it could all be destroyed with a change in ownership). Many anthros are on here...it's a matter of finding/creating ways to bring folks together.
What would it take to make #AnthroSky what #AnthroTwitter was?
January 14, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Good question. It would be great if we could find some ways to rebuild some of those networks (while also avoiding what happened with Twitter in which it could all be destroyed with a change in ownership). Many anthros are on here...it's a matter of finding/creating ways to bring folks together.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Perennial reminder of this excellent paper about how secret police forces are swamped with underachievers
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
January 14, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Perennial reminder of this excellent paper about how secret police forces are swamped with underachievers
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Anyone here know of studies of think tanks & research institutes, & their publications? I’m particularly interested in finding those that sponsor open-access journals but will take anything that discusses their publishing strategies.
January 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Anyone here know of studies of think tanks & research institutes, & their publications? I’m particularly interested in finding those that sponsor open-access journals but will take anything that discusses their publishing strategies.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
I'm co-chairing the Society for Social Studies of Science @4sweb.bsky.social Conference in Toronto, Oct 2026. #STS #scipol #innovation
Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures".
Open panel submissions portal is open! ls!
Deadline: 2nd February 2026
www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...
Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures".
Open panel submissions portal is open! ls!
Deadline: 2nd February 2026
www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...
About the Conference
www.4sonline.org
January 14, 2026 at 4:12 PM
I'm co-chairing the Society for Social Studies of Science @4sweb.bsky.social Conference in Toronto, Oct 2026. #STS #scipol #innovation
Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures".
Open panel submissions portal is open! ls!
Deadline: 2nd February 2026
www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...
Theme: "TechnoPower • Technoscientific Futures".
Open panel submissions portal is open! ls!
Deadline: 2nd February 2026
www.4sonline.org/about_the_co...
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
To say I am excited about this would be an understatement. To say I am a little bit terrified would not!
Actually, just really looking forward to it -- and really pleased to see SHARP continuing its accessible practices.
eve.gd/2026/01/10/i...
Actually, just really looking forward to it -- and really pleased to see SHARP continuing its accessible practices.
eve.gd/2026/01/10/i...
In conversation with Matthew G. Kirschenbaum
The inaugural SHARPIES, a global book history festival celebrating work in book history from around the world, will take place from July 7–9, 2026 (although ...
eve.gd
January 10, 2026 at 8:28 PM
To say I am excited about this would be an understatement. To say I am a little bit terrified would not!
Actually, just really looking forward to it -- and really pleased to see SHARP continuing its accessible practices.
eve.gd/2026/01/10/i...
Actually, just really looking forward to it -- and really pleased to see SHARP continuing its accessible practices.
eve.gd/2026/01/10/i...
Anyone here know of studies of think tanks & research institutes, & their publications? I’m particularly interested in finding those that sponsor open-access journals but will take anything that discusses their publishing strategies.
January 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Anyone here know of studies of think tanks & research institutes, & their publications? I’m particularly interested in finding those that sponsor open-access journals but will take anything that discusses their publishing strategies.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
It would appear I am now a columnist at Inside Higher Ed. My first piece focuses on McCarthyism, censorship, and our current moment in higher education. This is an essay I started nearly 6 months ago so I'm glad to finally share it with y'all.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
Censorship Arrives on Campus
In her debut column, “Echoes in the Quad,” higher education policy scholar Dominique J. Baker explores how the political oppression of the McCarthy era reverberates in the stifling of academic freedom...
www.insidehighered.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:24 PM
It would appear I am now a columnist at Inside Higher Ed. My first piece focuses on McCarthyism, censorship, and our current moment in higher education. This is an essay I started nearly 6 months ago so I'm glad to finally share it with y'all.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Our special issue with @martinkusch.bsky.social is finally complete and here’s at long last our introduction. I pitched the idea to him in 2019! Thank you for your patience and generosity, Martin. I am proud of this manifesto and hope colleagues will join us in rethinking this old debate #philsci
January 9, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Our special issue with @martinkusch.bsky.social is finally complete and here’s at long last our introduction. I pitched the idea to him in 2019! Thank you for your patience and generosity, Martin. I am proud of this manifesto and hope colleagues will join us in rethinking this old debate #philsci
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Interested in AI, ethics and open access? I’ll be speaking at this @uksg.bsky.social webinar on 5 February - it’s free to register, so please come along!
www.uksg.org/events/free-...
www.uksg.org/events/free-...
FREE UKSG webinar: The Open Access – AI Conundrum: Does Free to Read Mean Free to Train? - UKSG
This is a fantastic opportunity to listen to expert speakers with no travelling required. This is a free webinar - Please note that advance registration is required. This webinar will be recorded and ...
www.uksg.org
January 6, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Interested in AI, ethics and open access? I’ll be speaking at this @uksg.bsky.social webinar on 5 February - it’s free to register, so please come along!
www.uksg.org/events/free-...
www.uksg.org/events/free-...
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
I miss the fantasy that research could be apolitical.
I know it was an illusion. But the illusion made things easier on grad students in particular. Now, I don't know how they can choose tools, venues, and social media sites without committing to an explicit theory of tech politics in the 21c.
I know it was an illusion. But the illusion made things easier on grad students in particular. Now, I don't know how they can choose tools, venues, and social media sites without committing to an explicit theory of tech politics in the 21c.
January 3, 2026 at 5:58 PM
I miss the fantasy that research could be apolitical.
I know it was an illusion. But the illusion made things easier on grad students in particular. Now, I don't know how they can choose tools, venues, and social media sites without committing to an explicit theory of tech politics in the 21c.
I know it was an illusion. But the illusion made things easier on grad students in particular. Now, I don't know how they can choose tools, venues, and social media sites without committing to an explicit theory of tech politics in the 21c.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
"revision requests can expand beyond what is feasible...we've been told reviews are unnecessarily harsh... reviews can seem formidable but usually represent constructive critiques"
Interesting reflections and introspection from editors of Development 1/n
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Interesting reflections and introspection from editors of Development 1/n
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
The hard truth about how hard it is to publish in Development
Every researcher knows the anticipation and trepidation that come with submitting a paper to a journal. Years of effort have been distilled into a few thousand words and a handful of figures containin...
journals.biologists.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
"revision requests can expand beyond what is feasible...we've been told reviews are unnecessarily harsh... reviews can seem formidable but usually represent constructive critiques"
Interesting reflections and introspection from editors of Development 1/n
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Interesting reflections and introspection from editors of Development 1/n
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Just me & my family trying to get home to Saint Martin, today of all days.
January 3, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Just me & my family trying to get home to Saint Martin, today of all days.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
The book that actually blew my mind = The First and Last Bank. Using old-school anthropological analysis, it offers a new theory of banking and proposes biochar as a banking commons. It's rare to find a book that is simultaneously so radically weird & pragmatic. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
An economy based on carbon waste? Don’t laugh. It might just save us.
An inspiring thought experiment with real-world potential.
www.motherjones.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:41 PM
The book that actually blew my mind = The First and Last Bank. Using old-school anthropological analysis, it offers a new theory of banking and proposes biochar as a banking commons. It's rare to find a book that is simultaneously so radically weird & pragmatic. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Some of my fellow manuscript nerds may not be familiar with the thriving practices around handwritten Torah scrolls, which should be remedied! So have a 🧵
Torah scrolls as we know them are about two thousand years old, and have been essentially identical to one another for the last thousand years.
Torah scrolls as we know them are about two thousand years old, and have been essentially identical to one another for the last thousand years.
January 2, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Some of my fellow manuscript nerds may not be familiar with the thriving practices around handwritten Torah scrolls, which should be remedied! So have a 🧵
Torah scrolls as we know them are about two thousand years old, and have been essentially identical to one another for the last thousand years.
Torah scrolls as we know them are about two thousand years old, and have been essentially identical to one another for the last thousand years.
Reposted by Tim Elfenbein
Her: “It’d be great if you could subscribe to a single publication that saw you able to read a selection of your favourite writers. Like a curated museum, ya know? Instead of paying $2 a month to 50 of my favourite writers and …”
Me: “Like a periodical?”
Her: “Yes! That’s a brilliant idea!”
Me: “Like a periodical?”
Her: “Yes! That’s a brilliant idea!”
December 30, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Her: “It’d be great if you could subscribe to a single publication that saw you able to read a selection of your favourite writers. Like a curated museum, ya know? Instead of paying $2 a month to 50 of my favourite writers and …”
Me: “Like a periodical?”
Her: “Yes! That’s a brilliant idea!”
Me: “Like a periodical?”
Her: “Yes! That’s a brilliant idea!”