<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-GB" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><span style="color:black">Hello,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><span style="color:black">Please find attached and below a Press Release for the launch of Microbiology Society’s new open research platform, offering rapid service for publishing Open Access for
sound science across disciplines of microbiology and virology. The platform is free for authors submitting in the first year, so please do share in any relevant channels where researchers may benefit.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><span style="color:black">Many thanks,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><span style="color:black">Sarah Cooper</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;background:white">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white;border:none;padding:0cm">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><b><span style="color:black">JUNE 2022 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:18.0pt;line-height:115%;background:white">
<span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#213368;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Microbiology Society launches an innovative open research platform<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The Microbiology Society is delighted to announce that our sound science journal,
<i>Access Microbiology</i>, has been re-launched as an innovative open research platform and is now open for submissions. It is free to submit and publish on the platform during the first year of launch, so we encourage early submission to take advantage of
this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Access Microbiology</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"> was originally launched in 2018 as a new service to members of our community, allowing
the publication of replication studies, negative or null results, research proposals, data management plans, additions to established methods, and interdisciplinary work. By 2020 the number of submissions had exceeded expectations, showing that there is demand
for a Society-owned, sound-science microbiology journal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">In recent times,
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">there has been a complete overhaul in the way research is being both undertaken and shared. Researchers need to rapidly share their work and are increasingly being required to share the data
underlying their research. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black">The Council of the Society is keen to be at the
</span><a href="https://microbiologysociety.org/news/society-news/microbiology-and-the-journey-to-open-access.html"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">forefront of these changes</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">,
and we recognised there was a need for a trusted place for our community to disseminate their work rapidly, rigorously, and transparently. In response to this need, we applied for and won a grant from the Wellcome Trust and Howard Hughes Medical Institute
to convert <i>Access Microbiology</i> into an open research platform.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Where the <i>Access Microbiology</i> journal operated under a single-blind peer review model and only the published Version of Record was made publicly available, the new open research platform turns the entirety
of the peer review process inside out, to ensure a fully transparent process. This includes posting all article versions as preprints on the platform, and posting the reviewer reports, Editor decision and comments, and author responses to reviewers alongside
these.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The platform also features the manuscript review tools
</span><a href="https://www.penelope.ai/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Penelope.ai</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt">,
</span><a href="https://sciscore.com/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">SciScore</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> and
</span><a href="https://www.ithenticate.com/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">iThenticate</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt">. Designed to give submitting authors immediate feedback, these easy tools will help authors navigate publication requirements
and policies, improve the chances of quicker review and publication of the article, and increase the rigour and reproducibility of their research. The results of iThenticate and SciScore will also be posted alongside the preprint, meaning readers will be able
to assess the validity and reliability of the preprint themselves prior to full peer review.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><o:wrapblock><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Diagram
Description automatically generated" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:435.55pt;height:229.05pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:margin'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image001.jpg@01D87A7D.7B5B95D0" o:title="Diagram
Description automatically generated" croptop="4255f" />
<w:wrap type="topAndBottom"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style="mso-ignore:vglayout">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="15" height="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><img width="581" height="305" style="width:6.0486in;height:3.1805in" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D87A7E.EFA42690" alt="Diagram
Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</span><![endif]><!--[if gte vml 1]></o:wrapblock><![endif]--><br style="mso-ignore:vglayout" clear="ALL">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">The sound science scope of the platform ensures that all rigorous research can be published – a critical component in advancing the understanding of microbiology. As well as benefitting the wider microbiology community, it crucially
provides our early career researchers with an opportunity to publish much of the research that they generate that may otherwise remain unseen because it has not historically been seen as ‘worthy of publication’.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Access Microbiology</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> is more than just a new platform for the Microbiology Society; it will be a home for our members to communicate all the innovative and wonderful
types of work that they generate – not just traditional research. It is a symbol of the wider transformation that is yet to come at the Society and of what we can achieve. We are listening to our members’ needs and are prepared to push the boundaries to ensure
that we are continually amplifying their work. Microbiology Society member and Chair of Publishing Panel, Paul Hoskisson, explains why the platform is so important:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">‘<i>The transformation of Access Microbiology into an open research platform is a significant step in ensuring there is</i>
<i>accountability in our research and the peer review process, as well as offering researchers the opportunity to improve their work right from the beginning of the submission process. It is a globally unique platform that has been developed by our community,
for our community, and I can’t wait to see it embraced.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The launch of the platform is just the beginning of its evolution and feedback from our community is critical for its success. We would love to hear from you regarding how it can be improved, and if you would
like to get involved, so please do get in touch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#595959;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Contact:
</span></b><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:journals@microbiologysociety.org"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">journals@microbiologysociety.org</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#595959;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#58595B;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0cm"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Sarah Cooper
</span></b><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">[she/her]<b> | Promotions & Marketing Manager<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Microbiology Society | </span><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><a href="http://www.microbiologysociety.org/"><span style="color:#008461">microbiologysociety.org</span></a><span style="color:black"><br>
</span>14-16 Meredith Street, London, EC1R 0AB<span style="color:black">, UK</span></span><span style="color:#E19846"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.3pt"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Company Limited by Guarantee | Registered in England No. 1039582 | Registered as a Charity: 264017 (England & Wales); SC039250 (Scotland)
</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>