Meeting of the minds: Scopus' CSAB meets next week

Twice a year the Scopus Content Selection and Advisory Board (CSAB) comes together for a few days to discuss and make decisions regarding Scopus' content and content policies. Our next meeting starts next Wednesday and we are looking forward to discussing topics such as: publication ethics, content type expansion and ongoing content development programs, the overall review and acceptance process, and much more. I can vouch that these discussions are both lively and fruitful for all involved. And as Scopus' product marketing manager, I have the opportunity to present -- and get feedback on -- our new UI launching in January (more to come in subsequent blog posts), our new info site home on Elsevier.com, and general marketing strategy. Plus, I get to listen to the dynamic debates. This group is never at a loss for ideas and it is invigorating for the Scopus team to see how dedicated they are to Scopus' success and to the pursuit of science.  

So what is the CSAB exactly? And what do they do? The CSAB is an international group of scientists, researchers and librarians who represent the major scientific disciplines. The board is comprised of 14 Subject Chairs, each representing a specific subject field; board members are responsible for reviewing all titles that are suggested to Scopus via the Title Suggestion form. The Board works with our product and marketing team to understand how Scopus is used, what content is relevant for users and what enhancements should be made with respect to content. The recommendations of the CSAB directly influence the overall direction of Scopus and the prioritization of new content requests to ensure that Scopus stays international and relevant for the research community.

Two of our Subject Chairs, Dr. David Rew and Wouter Gerritsma, recently participated as panelists for two separate Elsevier Library Connect webinars. Dr. Rew participated in the "How librarians can help researchers navigate open access choices" while Mr. Gerritsma offered his views on "How librarians are raising researchers' reputations". Both were well-attended and well-received -- make sure to check out the links and watch for yourself.