Empowering Researchers for Future Open Scholarship & Publishing

From Writing Aid to Infrastructure: Empowering Researchers in an AI-Mediated World

Time: [TBC]

Abstract

AI is shifting from a tool researchers consciously use to an invisible layer woven through the whole research lifecycle.

In this talk, Dr. Hong Zhou traces that shift from "writing aid" to "infrastructure" and unpacks what it means for researchers. He explores how to make your research discoverable, trustworthy, and influential in an AI-mediated world, and how to work with AI responsibly as both author and reviewer. He also shares emerging trends reshaping peer-review workflows, from technological innovation to evolving measures of quality and impact. The session balances actionable takeaways for researchers with a wider view of how AI is transforming scholarly communication.

About the Speaker

Dr. Hong Zhou is VP of Product Management at KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd., where he guides product vision and strategy, leads cross-functional teams, and drives innovation across publishing solutions for researchers, librarians, and publishers worldwide.

Previously, he was Senior Director of AI Product & Innovation at Wiley, defining AI strategy and leading the roadmap. He helped shape Wiley’s AI ethics principles, advanced the Wiley Research Exchange and Atypon platforms, and led development of Wiley’s first AI-driven papermill detection tool, which won the 2025 Silver SSP EPIC Award for Excellence in Research Integrity Tools.

He is a recognized industry leader in AI, product innovation, and workflow transformation. He also received an individual honorable mention for the 2024 APE Award for Innovation.  He holds a PhD in 3D Modelling with AI and an MBA in Digital Transformation (Oxford University).

Measuring What Matters: Why Open Access and Research Assessment Reform Need Each Other

Time: [TBC]

Abstract

Open access and open research matter because they make research visible, reusable, and more accountable. They let others read the work, check the methods, reuse the data, and build on the results.

Research assessment reform matters because current systems often reward prestige, publication venue, and narrow metrics rather than quality, integrity, and contribution. If those incentives stay in place, openness remains optional instead of normal.

Openness and assessment reform are interdependent. Assessment reform needs open outputs and transparent research practices to assess fairly, and openness needs assessment reform so researchers are rewarded for practicing open research and therefore incentivised to do it.

About the Speaker

Janet Catterall is Program Manager for Open Access Australasia, the leading Australasian advocacy organisation for open scholarship.

Janet promotes open research and knowledge practices to build awareness, understanding, and systemic change across the research ecosystem. Grounded in a commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity in research and education, Janet believes that engaging with different knowledge systems and epistemologies is essential to understanding our world.

Janet also works for the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), supporting reform of research assessment as a key step toward making openness the scholarly norm. In addition, Janet is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication, a diamond, community-led journal, and is a member of a James Cook University research team focused on emergency mental healthcare. 

ORCID profile

Ethical Horizons in Scholarly Publishing: Safeguarding Integrity Amid Emerging Trends

Time: [TBC]

Abstract

Over the next decade, scholarly publishing will continue to be reshaped by rapid advances in technological innovation, expanding open science mandates, and evolving business models. While these trends promise faster and more accessible research communication, they also raise important ethical challenges around integrity, equity, and accountability. This talk will explore how institutions, researchers, and publishers can collaborate to address these issues, ensuring that the future publishing ecosystem upholds trust and transparency, and aligns with the values and responsibilities of academic research.

About the Speaker

Dr Trevor Lane is a Research Development and Impact Specialist at the HKU Faculty of Dentistry, where he advances research integrity, quality, and impact. With expertise in research design, ethics, publishing, editorial practice, communication, and knowledge exchange, he empowers staff and students to follow best practices and achieve, present, publish, and promote their highest quality research.

As an elected Trustee of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), he helps to shape international guidance on publication ethics and lead educational initiatives promoting responsible research conduct and publishing practices.

AI in Academic Publishing: Context, Challenges, and Emerging Norms

Time: [TBC]

Abstract

With the widespread impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a variety of areas, it has inevitably been integrated and continues to play a role in academic publishing, across the full scholarly publishing process. 

While AI offers powerful tools for authors, reviewers and editors, it also brings unique ethical challenges and AI-use standards are urgently needed. As an international publisher embracing these challenges, in 2025, we initiated a literature review study analyzing attitudes of 6 institutions, 8 publishers, 140 journals on AI-use standards (the results of which will be published in one of AME journals).

This presentation will share the insights from the study and AME’s latest policy on the use of AI as a case study. The audience’s feedback on the policy is warmly welcome as part of our policy-making process.

About the Speaker

Grace Li is the Managing Editor of the AME Publishing Company, a role she has held for almost 15 years. She is an expert in medical publishing and open access.

AME Publishing Company is a globally active open access publisher specializing in the publication of medical journals and books across the broad spectrum of science, technology and medicine. It is known for its diverse and innovative publication approaches in promoting and expediting scientific research. Its library of products includes medical journals, books, academic activities, electronic and web-based media, and a variety of academic platforms.