EDP Sciences decides against Open Access transition under S2O for Radioprotection in 2023

Paris, France, 18 May 2023: EDP Sciences and the Société Française de Radioprotection (SFRP) announced today that they have decided against transitioning Radioprotection to open access under Subscribe to Open (S2O) in 2023. Despite concerted efforts to promote the initiative and reach the required subscription threshold, the financial viability of the transition was not achieved at this time. This decision underscores the reality that open access for S2O journals is not guaranteed unless subscriptions are renewed.

Despite extending the assessment window, the required subscriptions for Radioprotection were not received and, with regret, the decision has been made to keep the content only accessible to subscribers. Radioprotection will, therefore, remain under subscriber-only access in 2023.

France Citrini, Deputy Editorial Director at EDP Sciences, expressed regret for the decision, acknowledging the challenges faced: "Despite our best efforts, we regrettably fell short of the subscription threshold to transition Radioprotection to open access under the S2O model in 2023. To support open science and enable the transition of journals like Radioprotection to immediate open access, it is crucial for institutions to subscribe to S2O journals. By doing so, institutions actively contribute to the collective effort of achieving wider access to scientific knowledge and promoting a more inclusive research environment."

While the journal will remain in closed access in 2023, it is important to emphasize the benefits of S2O. The S2O model provides an opportunity for authors to publish their research without article processing charges (APCs) and enables readers to access content free of charge.

Radioprotection remains committed to delivering high-quality research in the field of radiation protection and the journal's editorial board, along with EDP Sciences, will continue to explore opportunities for advancing open access initiatives and fostering greater dissemination of scientific knowledge in the future. In the meantime, Radioprotection remains in ‘Green’ open access, so compliant with Plan S. Authors wishing to publish in open access in Radioprotection can continue to do so via the open access option.

Subscribers have full access to the content published in 2023 and archives of the previous years. Any institution not yet subscribing to Radioprotection and wishing to gain access to this content needs to subscribe via the usual channels or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

EDP Sciences extends its gratitude to the institutions that have subscribed and supported the S2O model for Radioprotection. We remain hopeful that, with continued support, we can reach the necessary subscription threshold next year and open the content to benefit the scientific community and society as a whole. Earlier this year, EDP Sciences announced that Astronomy & Astrophysics and its Mathematics portfolio have received enough subscriptions and will therefore continue to publish in open access in 2023 under S2O.

About Radioprotection

Radioprotection is a peer-reviewed journal published by EDP Sciences on behalf of the Société Française de Radioprotection (SFRP). Articles are in English and French and address all aspects of radiological protection, including non-ionising as well as ionising radiations. Fields of interest range from research, development and theory to operational matters, education and training. Topics include (theoretical and practical aspects): dosimetry, instrument development, specialized measuring techniques, epidemiology, biological effects (in vivo and in vitro) and risk and environmental impact assessments. More information on the Radioprotection S2O programme.

About EDP Sciences

EDP Sciences was established in 1920 by a prestigious academic community of French learned societies seeking to inspire, innovate and inform others by sharing their knowledge. Members of this community included eminent scientists like Marie Curie, Paul Langevin and Louis de Broglie. Today, EDP Sciences publishes high-quality scientific journals, conferences proceeding, books and magazines in a broad range of scientific, technical, and medical disciplines.

About S2O

Subscribe to Open (S2O) is an alternative, transformative model that aims to transition subscription journals to open access in a fair, equitable and sustainable way without Article Processing Charges (APCs). First introduced by Annual Reviews and later endorsed by cOAlition S, S2O has been embraced by a number of publishers who have come together in the S2O Community of Practice. This innovative model has quickly become an accepted approach for achieving open access and builds on collaborative initiatives such as SCOAP3 and Knowledge Unlatched.

Following the subscription renewal cycle, a journal joining the S2O programme will publish its newly accepted content in open access as soon as all subscription renewals have been received. Articles are published under a CC-BY 4.0 license which allows authors to retain the copyright and others to share and adapt the content. The open access status of S2O journals is determined annually usually during the first quarter based on the level of subscriptions received.

ENDS

For further information, contact:
Charlotte Van Rooyen
Director of Marketing and Communications, EDP Sciences
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.