AGU and the Geological Society partner on geosciences book series

AGU has partnered with the Geological Society of London to launch a new open access book series called GeoHorizons, which focuses on critical topics in the geosciences.

Book proposals for the series can now be submitted for consideration. The focal point is solution-based science that addresses the many challenges facing humanity and the environment from a geosciences perspective. The books are intended to feature the work of scientists across demographics, geographic locations, professional backgrounds and career stages.

AGU is a leading scientific publisher with 24 peer-reviewed journals covering the range of Earth and space sciences, from space weather to tectonics and water resources. To date, 12 journals are fully open access, with the other journals slated for transition in the coming years. A book publisher since 1956, AGU also has more than 700 titles to its credit for the purposes of research, learning, teaching and professional development. GeoHorizons is AGU’s first book publishing partnership intended primarily for open access.

Open access books are freely available for digital download by anyone, thereby increasing equitable access to the breadth and depth of advances and perspectives contributed by researchers in the field.

“AGU is thrilled to partner with the Geological Society on a book series devoted to sharing insights and solutions from the geosciences community,” said Matthew Giampoala, AGU’s vice president of publications. “Our shared commitment to making content open access will help to ensure a free-flowing exchange of information and insights that will catalyze progress in the field and, ultimately, change the world for the better.”

Founded in 1807, the Geological Society is the oldest geological society in the world and a world-leading communicator of Earth science through scholarly publishing, library and information services, cutting-edge scientific conferences, education activities and outreach to the general public. The Society is one of the largest Earth science book publishers globally. Research from a global authorship is published across eight journals and several well-known book series and is hosted via the Lyell Collection.

“We are delighted to work alongside AGU on a brand-new open science book series that supports our shared goal of advancing Earth and planetary science solutions to global societal challenges,” said Maggie Simmons, director of publishing at the Geological Society. “Open research and collaboration are key to our mission to accelerate scientific progress, promote innovation and increase engagement with science.”

AGU and the Geological Society will collaborate on commissioning new titles and marketing published volumes. The Geological Society Publishing House will provide an end-to-end publishing service, including editorial management, peer review, content hosting and distribution.

“Myself and my colleagues on the Geological Society Books Editorial Committee are excited to be collaborating with our counterparts at AGU on this timely and topical new book series,” said Teresa Sabato Ceraldi, editor-in-chief of the Geological Society Books Editorial Committee. “The Society’s books program has a long history of publishing ground-breaking science that has helped to shape our understanding of the world. Through this new series, and partnership with AGU, we are encouraging the research community to propose volumes that examine the future of Earth and planetary sciences and the crucial role they play in our society.

‘We look forward to supporting previous editors and authors, as well as welcoming new, first-time contributors.”

“We believe that books remain a valuable means of collating and presenting scientific material,” said Kate Lajtha, editor-in-chief of AGU Books. “In a book you have the space and freedom to present a complete narrative about a topic and bring together different perspectives and content types that would otherwise need to be published in multiple journals. This new opportunity to publish open access books will enable more people to access exciting scientific material.”

For information on how to propose a volume, see: www.geolsoc.org.uk/news