STM recently convened exploratory workshops in London and Brussels to examine how scholarly publishers can support access to trusted research and evidence during emergencies. Discussions brought together a wide range of organisations with direct experience across science advice, humanitarian response, policy, public communication and research infrastructure, including DG ECHO, the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism, the European Parliament Research Service, the ISC, the UK Health Security Agency, CARA, CESAER, EASSH, Sense about Science, and UCL.

Participants advised that opening access to scholarly content is important as part of an effective emergency knowledge system, but not sufficient on its own. Rapid discovery, synthesis, translation, contextualisation and trusted routes into decision-making and public communication are also important. The workshops highlighted the importance of working with existing mechanisms rather than duplicating these, strengthening trusted intermediary networks, and preparing in advance for issues such as multilingual communication, AI-supported evidence discovery, local expertise, and the protection of knowledge assets where research systems are disrupted.

STM will now use the workshop insights to explore a a potential coordinated publisher response model, including practical activation processes, governance, user pathways, and safeguards. The aim is to understand where publishers can add distinctive value as part of wider emergency response and science advice ecosystems, while ensuring that any future approach is trusted, proportionate, and aligned with user needs.

STM welcomes feedback from members and partners as the Task & Finish Group work develops. Please share comments or expressions of interest with Sarah Phibbs.