The Future of Scientific Publishing
Science thrives on the unrestricted exchange of results and hypotheses through publications. Publications describe research findings, place them in the context of current knowledge, and include interpretations and ideas that should inspire further research.
Last edited: 22. January 2026
Scientific publishing has been undergoing significant changes for some time now. Key developments concern public accessibility (Open Access), funding and publishing models, quality assurance standards, and the future role of semantic technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in the automated analysis of publications. The working group will develop forward-looking concepts that particularly reflect the interests of the scientific community in an optimized publishing culture. Additionally, the group will pay special attention to the role of scientific publications in the evaluation of academic performance.
Unrestricted access to scientific literature is not only of scientific, but also of societal importance. The reliability and thus the credibility of science—which is also defined by open access to research results and data—form the basis for competent science communication and contribute to strengthening informed, science-based political decision-making in democratic processes.
The interdisciplinary working group will develop a "Report on Tomorrow's Science". This publication series will address questions of scientific development that are of particular medium- and long-term relevance for the relationship between science, politics, and society. The Future Report on Scholarly Publishing is aimed at all individuals and institutions involved in scientific research and its funding. These include academic societies, public and private research funders, scholarly editorial boards, and the scientifically interested public at large.
Spokesperson of the working group
Professor Dr
Diethard Tautz ▸
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
- Election year 2008
Further members of the working group
- Prof. Dr Eberhard Bodenschatz ML, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organisation, Göttingen
- Prof Dr Johannes Buchner ML, Technical University of Munich, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience
- Prof. Dr Konrad Förstner, Infrastructure and Research Centre for Life Science Data and Information, Cologne
- Dr Renko Geffarth, Scientific Editorial Office, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Halle (Saale)
- Prof Dr Martin Grötschel ML, TU Berlin, Institute of Mathematics
- Dr Angela Holzer, German Research Foundation, Bonn, Scientific Library Services and Information Systems
- Dr Stephanie Jurburg, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Applied Microbial Ecology, Global Young Academy
- Prof. Dr Martin Reinhart, Humboldt University of Berlin, Robert K. Merton Centre for Science Studies
- Prof Dr Klaus M. Schmidt, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Institute of Economics
- Prof Dr Martin Stratmann ML, Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, Düsseldorf
- Prof Dr Anke Weidenkaff ML, Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Materials and Geosciences
ML = Member of the Leopoldina
Contact us
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Kontakt Dr. Constanze Breuer
Scientific Officer, Department Science - Policy - Society
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Kontakt Dr. Sebastian Wetterich
Scientific Officer, Department Science - Policy - Society