Editorial

A&A community survey on the future of scientific publishing

Credibility over speed, fairness over profit, human judgment over automation

¹ University of Vienna, Department of Astrophysics, Türkenschanzstrasse 17, 1180 Vienna, Austria
² Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 3, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
³ EDP Sciences, 17, avenue du Hoggar, P.A. de Courtabœuf, B.P. 112, F-91944 Les Ulis Cedex, France
⁴ Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, Chemin Pegasi 51, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
⁵ Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Observatoire astronomique de Strasbourg, UMR 7550, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
⁶ Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Cité, CEA, CNRS, AIM, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
⁷ Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG, F-38000 Grenoble, France
⁸ Konkoly Observatory, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, H-1121 Budapest, Konkoly Th.M. 15-17, Hungary
⁹ ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Budapest, Hungary
¹⁰ Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1029, Blindern, NO–0315 Oslo, Norway
¹¹ Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1029, Blindern, NO–0315 Oslo, Norway
¹² Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

Abstract

Scientific publishing is undergoing major change, driven by a shift toward open access (OA), the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and growing demands for transparency, reproducibility, and equity. At the same time, rapid growth in article output strains editors and reviewers and means that metrics and speed can eclipse quality and rigor. To better understand how the community is responding, Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) commissioned the A&A Survey on Trends and Challenges in Scientific Publishing, which documents community opinion on journal choice, peer review, OA, research evaluation, and the role of AI, with the goal of informing future editorial policies and the wider conversation on sustainable, ethical, and equitable scientific communication. Distributed online in May 2025 to 28 787 A&A authors and co-authors, the 13-question survey drew 2944 responses from 69 countries by its closing date. Quantitative answers were analyzed through frequency distributions, and roughly 3000 free-text comments were grouped into recurring themes. The responses were clear. Journal quality and reputation are the most decisive factors in deciding where to publish, followed by cost. The principal worry about peer review is reviewer expertise and fairness rather than speed. Citation counts are still an important consideration, but many respondents want broader, more qualitative measures of impact. The majority of them prefer public or institutional funding for OA, and views on AI are polarized, with widespread acceptance of administrative and language assistance but firm opposition to autonomous decision-making or content generation. Integrity, credibility, and fairness are common themes in every section of the responses. Overall, the survey portrays an engaged community that values quality over speed, fairness over profit, and human oversight over automation, providing A&A with clear insight into community preference and a solid framework for shaping future policies on OA, peer review, and the responsible integration of AI.