Journal Notes: The Council of Science Editors and JGME – An Opportunity to Learn and Connect
In May 2024, the Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME) was once again among those learning and sharing at the Council of Science Editors (CSE) Annual Meeting, held this year in Portland, Oregon. The staff of JGME have been members and have attended CSE meetings and online webinars since early in the journal’s history as a way to remain current on the rapidly evolving world of scientific publishing. These meetings have served not only as professional development opportunities for individuals, but more importantly have also inspired new JGME developments and strategies—from social media dissemination, to streamlining the submission experience for authors, to making sure JGME editorial style reflects language changes that value equity and inclusion.
CSE began in 1957 as the Conference of Biology Editors, incorporating eight years later in 1965 as the Council of Biology Editors and expanding its membership to include all scientific publishing. In January 2000, it became the Council of Science Editors, a name that more accurately reflects its varied membership. Today it serves as an international organization for all editorial professionals in the sciences, providing networking, education, discussion, and exchange. CSE also publishes Science Editor, a quarterly print and online publication, as well as other reference works, including The CSE Manual, the ninth edition of which was recently released.
The theme for this year’s meeting was “Communicating Science for a Sustainable Future” and the event opened with a frank discussion by the CSE Industry and Advisory Board about the current shift in publishing toward an open access model. This change, which moves scientific publishing toward a focus on authors as primary customers rather than readers, is altering the way commercial publishers partner with societies and journals. While JGME is published by the ACGME and is fortunate to not have to charge authors fees to remain open access, smaller societies may find themselves more vulnerable. These changes will certainly influence what authors and readers expect from any journal.
Other sessions at the meeting focused on topics such as publishing ethics, effective dissemination of research through social media, inclusive language guidelines, training future editors and reviewers, and, not surprisingly, the influence of artificial intelligence (AI). Attendees and presenters reflected on how the meeting’s very first AI session, presented in Toronto just one year earlier (not long after the emergence of ChatGPT) barely grappled with how AI might change the world of publishing. One year later, CSE workshops are already discussing how AI has become part of the editorial workflow and exploring ways it can be used ethically and effectively.
The CSE meeting also presented learning opportunities for JGME staff members in the form of full-day short courses. Staff Editor Kevin Gladish attended a course for manuscript editors, which covered topics from Microsoft Word tips to copyediting to editing scientific tables. Managing Editor Jean Mattes also attended an advanced short course on publication management, which covered effectively using technology (including AI) in editorial workflows, creating equity in editorial teams, and how a journal could conduct a search for a new Editor-in-Chief.
Finally, the highlight of attending the CSE meeting, like any conference, is the opportunity to connect with other professionals. These conversations, over coffee, in hallways, and at dinner, often inspire new initiatives and collaborations. Every year, CSE meeting attendees can even sign up for group dinner conversations at different restaurants, where they can exchange ideas, get to know each other, and have some fun.
As scientific publishing continues to advance at a rapid pace, with new technology, economic shifts, and evolving paradigms around sustainability, equity, and inclusion, JGME looks forward to its ongoing involvement with CSE to continue learning, sharing, and meeting new challenges as they arise.
Journal Notes blogger Kevin Gladish is a staff editor for the Journal of Graduate Medical Education. He’s been at the ACGME since 2016, and is also a performer, writer, and storyteller.