Next Generation Journal Communities: Driving Growth, Engagement and Impact
February 27, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET

In today’s digital landscape, journals are more than just repositories of research—they can be dynamic communities that connect authors, readers, editors, and reviewers in meaningful ways. How can scholarly journals evolve to foster deeper engagement, increase visibility, and drive long-term success?

Join us for an insightful webinar featuring four experts who will share innovative strategies for:
✅ Building strong journal communities to amplify research visibility, usage, and citations.
✅ Leveraging online platforms to foster collaboration and deeper engagement.
✅ Implementing practical tools to enhance author loyalty and sustain journal growth.

Whether you're launching a new journal or looking to elevate an existing one, this session will provide actionable insights to help you harness the power of communities for greater impact and success.

Speakers

Ben Kaube co-founded Cassyni to help researchers disseminate their work through community events and video. Prior to Cassyni he founded research tools Kopernio for improving access to research articles (acquired by Clarivate) and Newsflo for helping academics evidence the societal impact of their research (acquired by Elsevier). Ben holds a PhD in physics from Imperial College London.

Serena Manara is a microbiome scientist and the co-founder and president of the Microbiome Virtual International Forum (MVIF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting global collaboration in microbiome research. MVIF organizes regular, accessible, and engaging scientific meetings that connect researchers from around the world. Over the past four years, Serena has led MVIF in creating a vibrant community that enhances the visibility of research and fosters networking opportunities for early-career researchers and key opinion leaders. Serena earned her Ph.D. from the University of Trento in Italy, where she specialized in microbial genomics, vertical microbiome transmission, and host-microbiome interactions. In addition to her role at MVIF, Serena serves as a Scientific Project Manager at PreBiomics, where she focuses on the oral microbiome and its impact on health.

Godwyns Onwuchekwa is the Head of Communities at eLife Sciences, where he leads initiatives to promote inclusivity, equity, and diversity in open science. His strong background in community advocacy and engagement, particularly in public health and social contexts, along with his work on social justice, enables him to amplify underrepresented voices, foster collaboration, and advance globally inclusive approaches to science communication and research.

Sorrel Bunting has extensive experience in researcher and science engagement and is currently Head of Researcher Engagement at Springer Nature. With a background in biochemistry and cell biology, she now leads a global team that utilises digital platforms—such as blogs, communities, and social media—to facilitate meaningful engagement with cutting-edge scientific research. Previously, Sorrel managed public and scientific engagement at the British Pharmacological Society and the British Heart Foundation, where she worked to raise awareness of critical biomedical research. Sorrel is passionate about enhancing science communication and empowering researchers to effectively share their work with diverse audiences, making complex science accessible and engaging.

Moderators: Ben Kaube and Steve Smith