Tuesday, May 22, 2018

InTechOpen, Intech, Sciyo

InTechOpen's main web pages site are devoid of the usual solecisms and grammatical errors seen on the websites of many smaller and plainly questionable publishers preying on academics. The About Us page describes the group as "the world's largest Science, Technology and Medicine Open Access book publisher." It claims InTechOpen "has published 2,977 books and 46,833 scientific works total by 100,665 international scientists" (whatever "international" means in this context). That would be about 2 books every 3 days and 11 articles every day, 7 days a years, for the 12 years of InTechOpen's self-proclaimed "journey to democratise knowledge."

In 2018, InTechOpen wanted me to pay them 1,400 Euros to write a chapter of between 14 and 20 pages for a book on "Trends and Challenges in Forensic Analysis ? New Frontiers in Forensic Science." I have to wonder about the question mark in the title, but there is not much doubt about likely quality. The subject areas include "nuclear physicists" and "testing." The book description reads:
Forensic Analysis is a field of Forensics to be explored and then executed with a hope to deliver better justice to the mankind. It includes a wide field of forensics unexplored and unearthed, which will be the prime reference for forensic researchers, diagnostic, chemists and physicists for their future practice in their respective fields. The book will visualize and primarily focus on the various aspects of new frontiers in forensic science associated with the production, collection or interrogation of such evidential sample. This will also amalgamate fundamental principles of forensic analysis, protocols and procedures needed for the better forensics. The principles and techniques detailed are then demonstrated and discussed in their applications to real-world investigations and casework conducted over the past several years so that it becomes an evaluation hardcover of all aspects of forensic analysis.
The editor of the book is B. Suresh Kumar Shetty. Dr. Shetty also is an editor for the disreputable OMICS International's Journal of Paediatric Medicine and Surgery.

Earlier invitations (4/24/17, 5/1/17, 5/8/17) sought 1,200 Euros from me for a small chapter in "'Post Mortem Examination and Autopsy - From Death Scene to Laboratory Analysis,' edited by Dr. Kamil Hakan Dogan." Dr. Dogan also edits the Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases and Diagnosis for OMICS International. That InTech finds it necessary to write the following description of "death scene and autopsy" for would-be authors is odd:
Death scene and autopsy may be horrifying for some people. Death scene investigation, post mortem examination, and autopsy are generally performed for the benefit of the living. A death investigation begins with body examination and evidence collection at the scene and proceeds through history, post mortem examination and autopsy, laboratory tests, and determining the cause and manner of death. Although forensic pathology is the oldest branch of the forensic sciences, today many branches of forensic sciences play a role in solving criminal death cases.
InTechOpen was on Beall's list of predatory publishers. The website www.intechopen.com is not registered to its founders. Instead, they use a proxy company in Arizona, obscuring their identities. The first emails came from Teo Kos, from InTechOpen Publishing Process Manager, kos@intechopen.com, +385 (51) 770 447, Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.

Other reports indicate that InTechOpen is another name for the venture known as InTech or Sciyo that had a serious reputation problem. See
http://retractionwatch.com/2013/10/17/fallout-from-sciences-publisher-sting-journal-closes-in-croatia/
http://blog.pokristensson.com/2010/11/04/academic-spam-and-open-access-publishing/
http://ask.metafilter.com/167606/A-chapter-of-my-very-own
http://poynder.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-nicola-rylett-intechs.html
In 2016, Sage Publishing, an Indian company, purchased five of Intechopen's journals.

UPDATE 5/9/20: On ResearchGate today, Malek Alghdeir commented that "I was invited to publish a chapter in a book by IntechOpen. Then asked me to pay 1400 £! firstly, the editor of my chapter suggests a great discount, but after that, they accepted to publish my chapter free."
Email
  • Sent: 5/8/17, 5/14/17
    From: kos@intechopen.com
    Dear Dr. Kaye
    I just wanted to check in with you regarding the book project on "Post Mortem Examination and Autopsy - From Death Scene to Laboratory Analysis" edited by Dr. Kamil Hakan Dogan. If there is anything I can help with, like answer any questions, or provide some additional information, please let me know. I hope to hear from you soon,
    Teo Kos, from InTechOpen
    Publishing Process Manager, http://www.intechopen.com/, +385 (51) 770 447, Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
    The information contained in either this email and, if applicable, the attachment, are confidential and are intended only for the recipient. The contents of either the email or the attachment may not be disclosed publicly. If you are not the intended recipient(s), any use, disclosure, copying, or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by e-mail at info@intechopen.com then delete the e-mail and all attachments and any copies thereof. This communication is part of InTech's publishing activity and is not intended for unauthorized use or distribution.
  • Sent: 5/21/18 (and half a dozen other times)
    From: IntechOpen (publishingdepartment@intechopen.com)
    Subject: Let's not lose contact
    Keep your mind open - stay in touch with IntechOpen
    the first native scientific publisher of Open Access books
    It’s our mission to help academics make a greater impact by giving free access to all published work – for advancement of knowledge among the scientific community. That’s why we want to make sure that you get all the latest news from us, including tidbits which can help your research career, invitations to scientific events where you can network with other like minds, or opportunities to collaborate with your peers on relevant chapter propositions. So, if you are happy to continue receiving our occasional updates, all you need to do is re-confirm by opting in so you can stay on our email list. *** Thank you for staying with us and continuing to participate in the scientific community's collaboration!
    IntechOpen
    www.intechopen.com
    You can, of course, unsubscribe. And if we don’t hear from you at all by the end of May, we will remove you from our database.
  • Sent: May 23, 2018, at 11:30 AM
    From: Nino Popovic | IntechOpen (popovic@intechopen.com)
    Subject: Contribute to Trends and Challenges in Forensic Analysis – New Frontiers in Forensic Science
    Dear Dr. Kaye,
    Due to your involvement in the field, and the research you published in your paper, "Beyond uniqueness: The birthday paradox, source attribution and individualization in forensic science testimony," IntechOpen invites you to extend your work and offer a more comprehensive overview of your studies. Contribute a chapter to "Trends and Challenges in Forensic Analysis – New Frontiers in Forensic Science," an upcoming Open Access book edited by Dr. B Suresh Kumar Shetty and Dr. Jagadish Rao Padubidri.
    Work with an internationally recognized peer group and gain increased visibility for your published work. Please visit the book project page to register your interest. We look forward to hearing from you.
    Kind Regards,
    Nino Popovic, from IntechOpen
    Author Service Manager
  • Sent: Wed 5/23/2018 11:32 AM and 5/26/18 at 6:31 PM
    From: Nino Popovic | IntechOpen (popovic@intechopen.com)
    Subject: Checking In - Trends and Challenges in Forensic Analysis – New Frontiers in Forensic Science
    Dear Dr. Kaye,
    I just wanted to check in with you regarding the book project on "Trends and Challenges in Forensic Analysis – New Frontiers in Forensic Science" edited by Dr. B Suresh Kumar Shetty and Dr. Jagadish Rao Padubidri ... . If there is anything I can help with, like answer any questions, or provide some additional information, please let me know. I hope to hear from you soon,
    Nino Popovic
    Author Service Manager
    IntechOpen, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG , United Kingdom, +385 (51) 770 447
    INTECHOPEN LIMITED, Registered in England and Wales No. 11086078
    We are IntechOpen, the first native scientific publisher of Open Access book
  • Sent: Wed 5/23/2018 11:32 AM
    From: Nino Popovic | IntechOpen (popovic@intechopen.com)
    Subject: Trends and Challenges in Forensic Analysis – New Frontiers in Forensic Science - Registration is Still Open
    Dear Dr. Kaye,
    In case you did not receive my previous email, I just wanted to follow up one more time regarding the book project on "Trends and Challenges in Forensic Analysis – New Frontiers in Forensic Science". There is still time to register: ... Let me know if you are interested, or if you have any questions or need some additional information. I hope to hear from you soon,
    Nino Popovic
    Author Service Manager
    IntechOpen, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG , United Kingdom, +385 (51) 770 447
    INTECHOPEN LIMITED, Registered in England and Wales No. 11086078
    We are IntechOpen, the first native scientific publisher of Open Access books

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for your post, it helps me a lot. I recently received different invitations from them.

    ReplyDelete