GSW Acquires Lithosphere to Launch as OA Community Journal

September 17, 2019 – McLean, VA – GeoScienceWorld (GSW) Acquires Lithosphere to Launch as First Open Access Community Journal for the Geosciences. Planned journal scope expansion will provide a multi-disciplinary, Open Access publishing avenue for participating societies and the global geosciences community

GeoScienceWorld (GSW), a nonprofit collaborative and comprehensive resource for research and communications in the Earth Sciences, today announced the acquisition of the journal Lithosphere, formerly published by The Geological Society of America (GSA), a GSW partner society. Lithosphere will provide a unique publishing choice for authors in the geoscience community, achieved through an alliance between GSW and leading nonprofit societies, including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), The Geological Society of America (GSA), Geological Society of London (GSL), Mineralogical Society of America (MSA), SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology, Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), and Society of Economic Geologists (SEG).

Lithosphere, a valued and established open access journal originally launched in 2009 by GSA with a targeted scope, will now expand to include coverage of research in all areas of earth, planetary, and environmental sciences. Development of a diverse international editorial board and reviewer base with expertise across the geosciences will drive the expansion of the journal’s scope.

The acquisition of the journal by GSW supports the organization’s mission “to protect the viability and independence of society publishing programs while constantly exploring and incorporating valuable economic and strategic benefits of collaboration.” As a community-driven journal, this unique alliance of prestigious societies and editors in geoscience provides a home for all scientifically rigorous and valid research, published by highly respected organizations with a proven track record for disseminating high-quality authoritative findings.

“Since 2004, GeoScienceWorld’s nonprofit program has helped societies harness collaborative opportunities. As a complement to our database and society services offerings, we are now looking forward to extending our efforts into Open Access publishing,” said Alix Vance, CEO.
“Many societies are seeking an inclusive, Gold Open Access publishing solution and/or opportunity to broaden the scope of literature published. By publishing Lithosphere as a shared initiative with preeminent societies, GSW will provide a timely, valuable, and sustainable solution.”

For GSA, the decision to transfer ownership of Lithosphere came after much in-depth internal discussion, and from a desire to support the GSW partners by providing a vehicle to publish research from across the GSW community. “We welcome the expanded support GSW’s involvement will bring to the journal,” said GSA Executive Director Vicki McConnell. “GSA sees this partnership with GSW as a reflection of its mission to advance geoscience research and discovery and to allow Lithosphere to grow.”

Lithosphere will continue to publish under the guidance of GSA through December 31, 2019, with GSW taking over January 1, 2020.

About GeoScienceWorld
GeoScienceWorld (GSW) is a nonprofit collaborative and comprehensive resource for research and communications in the Earth Sciences. GSW works with societies, institutions, and researchers around the world and provides a single source of access to 46 preeminent scholarly journals, 2,120+ eBooks, and over 4 million GeoRef records with specialized and map-based search capabilities and links to curated earth science research around the Web. Through its Society Services Program, GSW also serves as a platform for cost-effective hosting for independent society sites, providing a scalable and efficient global presence for societies, authors, and members. Since 2005, GSW has returned more than $38 million to membership societies to achieve their scientific missions.

About Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1888, is a scientific society with members from academia, government, and industry in more than 100 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.

For information contact Laura FitzGerald,