ReimagineReview records trials that are probing the pros and cons of different approaches to review.
A grass-roots group of biologists has started a website to keep track of the proliferation of experiments in academic peer review — including trials and platforms aimed at making the review process faster, cheaper, and more transparent and interactive.
“Peer review is deeply embedded into the scientific process, and it serves multiple purposes: giving and receiving feedback, error detection and correction, and filtering and curation. Yet, there’s little evidence that it functions optimally,” notes the site, called ReimagineReview.
At launch, it listed around two dozen peer-review projects or trials, filed under categories such as transparency; quality of review; bias in review; speed; and incentives and recognition for reviewing. The site’s creators aim to add more projects and they invite scientists working on new ideas to add their experiments to its registry.