A year of projects and commitments for an open knowledge ecosystem
The webinar opened with a welcome and introduction by Gwendal Henry, Director of Communications and Engagement. Élise Bergeron, Director of Operations, then reviewed the highlights of the past year at Érudit, the structural projects that have been completed, and the major directions for the future. The meeting also provided an opportunity to (re)discover Érudit, its team, its journals, and the ecosystem that supports them, thanks in particular to the contributions of partners such as Coalition Publica, the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), and the Réseau Circé, alongside the central role played by libraries. Discussions also touched on Érudit’s commitments to open access, including diamond open access and the Barcelona Declaration.
Finally, the Q&A session provided an opportunity to address interest in content related to Indigenous peoples, particularly journals and research on First Nations available on Érudit, highlighting the importance of these issues for the community.
Towards a new formula for partnership support
Jessica Dallaire-Clark, Senior Open Access Development Coordinator, presented the principles of the Partnership for Open Access (POA), a pillar of support for journals transitioning to open access that ensures sustainable funding thanks to the collaboration of more than 90 libraries. In this regard, the Érudit Scientific Committee has been working for several years to develop a new formula, scheduled for 2027, to support both journals in transition and those already in open access, in line with the values of Érudit and its partner libraries.
The Q&A session provided an opportunity to discuss the prospects for Erudit’s internationalization, as well as interest in possible collaborations with international open science initiatives. It also raised issues related to the evolution of the POA funding model, particularly in the context of the growing number of open access journals.
A proactive approach to the challenges of artificial intelligence
Yves Terrat, Senior Research Advisor in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Experience, presented the challenges associated with artificial intelligence (AI), particularly around automated content harvesting. He outlined the measures put in place to respond proactively, including the deployment of Anubis, a verification system that filters out illegitimate bots while maintaining access for users. The presentation also addressed Érudit’s research in AI, the monitoring of technical, legal, and environmental aspects of AI, and the opportunities AI offers to improve content discoverability. These considerations are part of a commitment to develop responsible AI, in line with Érudit’s mission and the principles of open science.
During the Q&A session, discussions focused in particular on the links between artificial intelligence and open access, a key issue for the evolution of the scientific ecosystem. In addition, the measures put in place to regulate the use of AI were also discussed. Other questions reflected on access to the Érudit corpus for training large language models, the use of AI to support certain tasks such as metadata creation, and the importance of working together as a community to address the challenges of automated traffic.
Conclusion and access to the presentations
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to everyone who took part in this event and we’ll always be available to continue these discussions throughout the year!