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Celebrating innovation and impact: the power of scholarly publishing

Melanie Dolechek

Now, more than ever, we need to recognise, celebrate, and elevate those who are driving progress, writes Melanie Dolechek

We are witnessing a wave of politicised disinformation, hostility toward expertise, and erosion of trust in the very institutions that uphold the integrity of objective knowledge. As scholarly communications professionals, we find ourselves not simply defending research, but also the mechanisms through which knowledge is discovered, reviewed, preserved, and shared.

The infrastructure of scholarly publishing: digital platforms, editorial processes, peer review systems, integrity tools, translation services, and discovery layers has been developed over the last three centuries and is constantly evolving and adapting to the shifting needs of our communities while also protecting the integrity of the research we’ve been entrusted to disseminate. There are thousands of dedicated people who build, maintain, and refine the pipelines that turn inquiry into evidence.

The work done by scholarly publishers is largely invisible to the public and grossly underestimated by those outside of the industry, often even by the stakeholders that we serve. Many people working in scholarly publishing may have ended up here unexpectedly, or as I like to think, by fortunate coincidence. Most folks will say they stay because they feel like what they do matters and contributes to advancing research, which ultimately benefits society. 

These pressures can feel like a heavy weight, but they are also pushing us to create better systems, communicate with new audiences, and streamline processes. Now, more than ever, we need to recognise, celebrate, and elevate those who are driving progress in the face of adversity. 

Launched in 2025, the EPIC Awards – Excellence in Publishing, Information Technology, and Communications – highlight this behind-the-scenes work that drives research innovation and inspires our community. EPIC Awards honour the teams and organisations working daily to protect our industry’s values by looking holistically at what scholarly publishers actually do, bringing awareness to the labor and creativity behind the innovations propelling scholarly publishing.

From platforms to people: what we celebrate

The inaugural EPIC Awards demonstrated just how broad the innovation horizon is. Out of more than 90 entries, winners emerged from global commercial publishers, academic associations, university presses, libraries, and nonprofit innovators. We saw:

  • Advanced peer review technologies, such as River Valley Technologies’ reproductive ReView 3.0 system;
  • Author support tools, like Cassyni’s author seminars, enabling early-career and multilingual researchers to find their footing;
  • Integrity solutions, including Clear Skies’ efforts to combat misconduct transparently;
  • Discovery-enhancing products, from Scite’s Smart Citations to Copyright Clearance Center’s OA Intelligence; 
  • Public engagement efforts, like Wolters Kluwer’s Brain & Life, which brings neuroscience to broad public audiences, and Frontiers for Young Minds, which engages school-age children in the latest research; 
  • Initiatives like the Giving Voice Project from the University of Split which supports authors, particularly those impacted by war, in sharing their experiences.

At the same time, we honoured journals and publishers expanding access, universities using publishing to drive educational equity, marketing campaigns elevating underrepresented authors, and multimedia storytelling that pushes the boundaries of traditional publishing.

These efforts are not merely projects and products – they are the fabric of modern scholarly communications. They strengthen the infrastructure of science and the humanities, increase public trust, and bring scholarship out of silos and into the world.

“We’re deeply honored to have received the SSP EPIC Gold Award in the Sustainability category. At Integra, sustainability is not just a theme — it’s a commitment that runs deep in how we operate” – Ashutosh Ghildiyal, VP Growth & Strategy, Integra

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond

Following the program’s enthusiastic debut, SSP is currently accepting submissions for the 2026 EPIC Awards to recognise excellence in publishing, information technology, and communications across five core domains:

  • Tools & Products — Innovators who reshape the publishing lifecycle
  • Publications — Outstanding journals, books, issues, and reports
  • Marketing — Campaigns that expand the reach and impact of scholarship
  • Media — Storytelling forms that engage and educate
  • Initiatives — Programs advancing equity, accessibility, sustainability, and education

We will also continue to uplift student-led publications, because the future of academic publishing depends on the visibility, ethics, and creativity of tomorrow’s practitioners. Winners will be honoured at SSP’s 48th Annual Meeting in Chula Vista, California, where our community will gather not only to celebrate but to learn from one another.

One of the most energising aspects of our awards program is the judging ecosystem. Scholarly professionals of all stripes – not just executives, but editors, librarians, technologists, analysts, educators, marketers, and early-career voices – are invited to review entries. The process is a mirror of our sector: collaborative, reflective, and values-driven. 

The value of scholarly communication is worth defending. Highlighting rigor, excellence, and innovation through your participation will strengthen our community. We encourage you to submit, judge, mentor, or support groundbreaking work around us, demonstrating your commitment to sharing knowledge with researchers, educators, and the public.

The deadline for award submissions and judging applications is December 12, 2025.

Melanie Dolechek is Executive Director for the Society for Scholarly Publishing

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