Insights Xchange: Conversations Shaping Academic Research
Welcome to the Insights Xchange podcast, brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Hosted by Nikesh Gosalia, this podcast is your guide to the world of research and academic publishing. Tune in to hear lively discussions with experts from the academic and publishing realms.
Earlier known as All Things SciComm, the new series covers a variety of topics, from the latest trends in academic publishing to critical issues faced by researchers in an increasingly AI-driven world. Join us for insightful conversations and expert perspectives that will help you navigate the exciting world of academia. Whether you're a researcher, publisher, or just curious about academic insights, this podcast hopes to be your go-to source for understanding the evolving landscape of academic publishing.
Stay ahead, stay informed, and let's explore the fascinating world of research and knowledge together!
Insights Xchange: Conversations Shaping Academic Research
The Metadata Behind the Manuscripts: Ed Pentz on the Future of Scholarly Infrastructure
Every day, over 8,000 scholarly articles are published—but how do they become discoverable, citable, and connected across journals, databases, and platforms?
The answer lies in the invisible infrastructure of scholarly publishing: metadata, persistent identifiers, and interoperability.
In this episode of Insights Xchange, we’re joined by Ed Pentz, Executive Director of Crossref, the organization behind the DOIs and metadata standards that make modern academic publishing possible. Ed shares what it means for Crossref to be the “plumbing” of scholarly communication, why metadata is the unsung hero of research visibility, and how open infrastructure is shaping a more inclusive and discoverable global knowledge ecosystem. We also explore how AI and machine learning are accelerating the demands on metadata, what true interoperability means for equity in global research, and what Ed would redesign if he had the chance to build the scholarly communication ecosystem from scratch.
If you've ever cited a paper or searched for one online, you're already benefiting from the quiet systems Ed and his team have built. Tune in for a fascinating look at the trust, tech, and transformation powering the research world.
Social media links
Nikesh Gosalia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/
Ed Pentz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-pentz-3816223/?originalSubdomain=uk
Show notes:
Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Ed Pentz and Nikesh discussed in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com
Crossref | https://www.crossref.org/
Wired | https://www.wired.com/
Academic Press | https://booksite.elsevier.com/brochures/academicpress/
Harcourt Brace | https://www.hmhco.com/
Oxford Food Hub | https://oxfordfoodhub.org/
ORCID | https://orcid.org/
ROR (Research Organization Registry) | https://ror.org/
PubMed | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
SSP (Society for Scholarly Publishing) | https://www.sspnet.org/
UKSG (UK Serials Group) | https://www.uksg.org/
ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers) | https://www.alpsp.org/
STM (International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers) | https://stm-assoc.org/
NISO (National Information Standards Organization) | https://www.niso.org/
Open Access | https://www.openaccess.nl/en/what-is-open-access
Open Scholarly Infrastructure (POSI) | htt
Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us:
- LinkedIn /cactus-communications
- Facebook /CactusCommunications
- Twitter @Cactusglobal
- YouTube @CactusCommunications