Changes to academic publishing policy and the renewed focus on the impact of research is changing the way biologists disseminate their research findings.

The Society of Biology is canvassing the bioscience community to find out what challenges and opportunities those who regularly use and/or create research outputs are facing.

To include your experience with open access, social media and dissemination, please complete the Research Dissemination Committee survey by 15th March 2015.

The survey results will help the Society of Biology to identify policy and practical issues and inform how best to support the bioscience community.

Jackie Caine, senior science policy adviser at the Society of Biology, said:
"The way we communicate research findings is changing. The academic publication landscape in the UK is being reshaped by research funder policies promoting open access, publishers in turn providing OA and hybrid journals to meet this demand, and authors making new choices.

"The Society of Biology welcomes policies that maximise access to research outputs; however it is vital that sustainable and workable systems are put in place. This survey will help us to capture any challenges faced by biologists who use and produce research outputs, to identify and circulate good practice, and to support for the community.

"It will also help us identify how biologists are communicating their research and contributing to the public interaction with science; be that through journal articles, blogs, repositories and other sharing platforms."