Advances in Global Health is a new, open-access journal from UC Press and the UC Global Health Institute. In this post, we check in with Editor-in-Chief Craig Cohen on his progress and on the vision and aims guiding the journal.
UC Press: What sets Advances in Global Health apart from other online journals committed to global/public health?
Craig Cohen: Advances in Global Health will focus on highlighting interdisciplinary global health research. In fact, the journal is organized around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and their influence on health. Initially, the Journal will focus on SDG 1 (ending poverty), SDG 2 (ending hunger), SDG 3 (health and well-being for all), SDG 5 (gender equality) with an additional focus on planetary health which encompases parts of multiple SDGs including 6, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15). From its origins, Advances in Global Health seeks to promote research conducted by researchers in low- and middle-income countries to address the most pressing health and development issues affecting resource-poor communities around the world. In this way, Advances in Global Health embraces the call for decolonizing and democratizing global health.
UC Press: The World Health Organization (WHO) groups member states into categories based on income. How would you define LMICs? And how does Advances in Global Health aim to amplify voices that will reach global audiences including LMICs?
Craig Cohen: Although published by one of the leading American academic publishers, UC Press, the Editorial Board is comprised of leading global health scientists with a majority from LMICs. Thus, we plan to leverage the networks of the Editorial Board members to connect with scientists in LMICs working at the cutting edge of global health innovation.
UC Press: Is access to the journal free? If so, for how long? How about submissions? Is there a cost to submit?
Craig Cohen: Open-access journals cover their operations by charging a per-article processing fee. However, we are committed to not having the article processing fee hinder submission of articles to Advances in Global Health. Thus, citizens of many LMICs will not be charged a fee, while others will be able to apply for a reduction in the article processing fee. The University of California, including UC Press are committed to the value of unfettered access to scientific discovery, and discourse. As an open-access journal, Advances in Global Health will be freely available online.
UC Press: Do you plan to enable early career global health professionals, students and faculty to contribute to this online journal? If so, how?
Craig Cohen: The short answer is yes! Advances in Global Health is fully committed to serving as a platform for scientists from LMIC at all levels, including students, to publish in an international global health journal. Of course, scientists from high-income countries, in particular those in collaboration with LMIC scientists or addressing health disparities in a high-income country will also be encouraged to publish in the journal. Once we get started, we plan to partner with local and regional institutions to provide manuscript writing workshops.
UC Press: You have outlined strategic development goals; can you share what they are?
Craig Cohen: As I mentioned earlier, we will focus on SDG 1, 2, 3, 5 and planetary health. In later years, we anticipate expanding the scope of the Journal to include other SDGs. The Editorial Board is being constructed under the SDG framework, with section editors overseeing content, with planned collaboration between section editors to support the publishing of cross-cutting themes, including special issues.
UC Press: Thank you, and best of luck in this new venture!
Advances in Global Health is an open-access, online-only journal from University of California Press and the UC Global Health Institute, which seeks to take a new approach to publishing research in the field of global health by aligning the journal with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
online.ucpress.edu/agh
Twitter: @AdvancesGH