With the rapid expansion of the international publication landscape, the demand for Chinese reviewers is on the rise, reflecting China's increasing prominence in global research output.
"Inviting expert reviewers to participate in the peer review process is inevitable if journal editors want to make informed publishing decisions," said Matteo Cavalleri, a publisher at AIP Publishing.
Rising as a major contributor
According to the 2023 Nature Index Annual Tables, which evaluate the institutions and countries based on their contributions to high-quality research published in 2022, China surpassed the US, securing the lead in four science categories (physical sciences, chemistry, biological sciences, and earth and environmental sciences). The country's adjusted share of research output increased by 21.4 percent from 2021, the largest increase among the top 10 countries in the annual tables.
Based on data from Clarivate, taking the three-year average through 2021, China accounted for 24.6 percent of all papers published worldwide. Furthermore, the country produced nearly 30 percent of the top 10 percent and one percent of the most-cited publications.
Cavalleri attributed the rapid development of China's S&T publications to the country's ample funding and resources. "The Chinese government has prioritized scientific research and development as a cornerstone of national development," he said, adding that a large pool of highly educated and skilled researchers has been fostered under the nation's initiatives like the "Double First-Class" initiative, a higher education development program to forge a world-class higher education system.
Young scientists welcomed
Cavalleri noted that the percentage of Chinese reviewers does not proportionately align with their contributions to international publications.
AIP Publishing data reveals that while about one-third of research articles published in 2023 originated from China, only 17 percent of review invitations were extended to Chinese researchers that year. AIP Publishing encourages more Chinese scientists to join the reviewer community to bridge this gap considering the multifaceted role of Chinese reviewers in international journal publishing.
"Chinese reviewers bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge in various sci-tech fields. Their involvement adds a diversity of perspectives to the peer review process," Cavalleri said. Diversity is essential to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of manuscripts, considering various scientific traditions, methodologies, and cultural contexts.
To engage more Chinese reviewers in international journal publishing, AIP Publishing has launched a new peer review initiative. It includes an "Engaged Reviewer" tag to its manuscript submission portal, designed to attract researchers interested in contributing to the peer review process, Cavalleri said. Relevant webinars were also scheduled to support young scientists.
"We welcome more young Chinese scholars to join the community of peer reviewers as this would indeed bring significant changes to the global academic ecosystem," Cavalleri said.
Source: Science and Technology Daily
