Insights Xchange: Conversations Shaping Academic Research

Cactus Communications (CACTUS)
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Insights Xchange podcast, brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Hosted by Nikesh Gosalia, this podcast is your guide to the world of research and academic publishing. Tune in to hear lively discussions with experts from the academic and publishing realms.  Earlier known as All Things SciComm, the new series covers a variety of topics, from the latest trends in academic publishing to critical issues faced by researchers in an increasingly AI-driven world. Join us for insightful conversations and expert perspectives that will help you navigate the exciting world of academia. Whether you're a researcher, publisher, or just curious about academic insights, this podcast hopes to be your go-to source for understanding the evolving landscape of academic publishing. Stay ahead, stay informed, and let's explore the fascinating world of research and knowledge together!

  1. 4D AGO

    As AI Redefines Research and Users Demand More, Can Scholarly Publishing Platforms Become Strategic Allies?

    In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Will Schweitzer, CEO of Silverchair, to explore the rapidly changing landscape of scholarly publishing platforms. With decades of experience spanning product leadership, publishing strategy, and platform innovation, Will offers an unfiltered look at the industry’s most pressing challenges—and where true opportunity lies. From the rise of non-human traffic and AI disruption to modularity myths, research integrity, and leadership in uncertain times—this episode explores how platforms can become strategic allies in a changing ecosystem. He also discusses Silverchair’s acquisition of ScholarOne, the tension between innovation and platform stability, and the challenges smaller publishers face in a complex, fast-moving ecosystem. Join us for a sharp, insightful look at the future of scholarly infrastructure—grounded in real experience, not just theory. Social media links Nikesh Gosalia:  www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/ x.com/NikeshGo Will Schweitzer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wschweitzer/ Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Will Schweitzer discussed with Nikesh in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com  Silverchair | https://www.silverchair.com/  SAGE Publishing | https://www.sagepub.com/  AAAS – American Association for the Advancement of Science | https://www.aaas.org/  Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins | https://lww.com/pages/default.aspx  American Psychological Association (APA) | https://www.apa.org/  Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) | https://www.sspnet.org/  American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) | https://www.aap.org  Potsdam Science Park (PSP) | https://potsdam-sciencepark.de/en/  Wolters Kluwer | https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en-in  NIH – National Institutes of Health | https://www.nih.gov/  NSF – National Science Foundation | https://www.nsf.gov/  Council of Science Editors | https://www.councilscienceeditors.org/  Company of Biologists | https://www.biologists.com/  Princeton University | https://www.princeton.edu/  Cloudflare | https://www.cloudflare.com/ Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us: LinkedIn /cactus-communications Facebook /CactusCommunications Twitter @Cactusglobal YouTube @CactusCommunications

    57 min

  2. SEP 18

    Human-AI Collaboration in Editorial Workflows: A Framework for Responsible Innovation

    AI is rapidly changing the landscape of scholarly publishing—from detecting image manipulation and plagiarism to assisting with reviewer matching and assessing statistical rigor. But as these tools become more embedded in editorial workflows, they also raise serious questions around bias, transparency, and ethical oversight. In this episode, Dr. Chhavi Chauhan—a scientist, ethicist, and global voice in responsible AI—joins host Nikesh Gosalia to unpack the complex relationship between humans and algorithms in research publishing. They explore the benefits of AI-powered tools, the critical gaps they can’t yet fill, and what a truly responsible “human + AI” model could look like. The conversation also touches on inclusivity, evolving peer review practices, and how editorial teams can thoughtfully embrace innovation without compromising integrity. Whether you’re an editor, researcher, or simply curious about the future of academic publishing, this episode offers practical insights and a much-needed ethical lens on AI’s role in science. Social media links Nikesh Gosalia: www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/ x.com/NikeshGo Dr. Chhavi Chauhan: www.linkedin.com/in/chhavichauhan/ x.com/chhavic Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Dr. Chhavi Chauhan discussed with Nikesh in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com SSP (Society for Scholarly Publishing) | https://www.sspnet.org/  Peer Review Congress | https://peerreviewcongress.org/    Wikipedia | https://www.wikipedia.org/  Bias Codex | https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/www.sog.unc.edu/files/course_materials/Cognitive%20Biases%20Codex.pdf   Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us: LinkedIn /cactus-communications Facebook /CactusCommunications Twitter @Cactusglobal YouTube @CactusCommunications

    51 min

  3. SEP 15

    Responsible Peer Review: Building Systems That Work

    This episode of Insights XChange dives deep into the evolving landscape of peer review and the responsibility publishers carry in building systems that are fair, fast, and future-ready. Guest Lucy Threadgold, Peer Review Manager at Emerald Publishing, shares how Emerald revamped its reviewer pools, introduced structured feedback systems, and is prioritizing transparency at every step of the publishing process. From the role of AI in automating early peer review checks to the need for mentorship programs and neurodiverse-friendly author guidelines, the conversation explores where publishing is headed—and what it will take to get there with integrity intact.  Social media links Nikesh Gosalia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/ https://x.com/NikeshGo Lucy Threadgold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-threadgold/ Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Lucy Threadgold discussed with Nikesh in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com Ishāq bin Ali al-Ruhawi | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39397545/  Emerald Publishing | https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/  COPE– Committee on Publication Ethics | https://publicationethics.org/  NISO– National Information Standards Organization | https://www.niso.org/  ScholarOne (Clarivate) | https://support.silverchair.com/scholarone-manuscripts/  Taylor & Francis | https://taylorandfrancis.com/  Royal College of Surgeons | https://www.rcseng.ac.uk  Engender Journal | https://engender-academia.com  Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) | https://www.sspnet.org  Peer Review Week | https://peerreviewweek.net/  SSP Conference | https://customer.sspnet.org/SSP/ssp/EventDisplayNP.aspx?EventKey=AM25  Emerald Podcast Series | https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/emerald-podcast-series   Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us: LinkedIn /cactus-communications Facebook /CactusCommunications Twitter @Cactusglobal YouTube @CactusCommunications

    44 min

  4. JUL 25

    Rethinking Science Communication: Beyond Technology Trends

    This episode unpacks the complex relationship between technology, innovation, and trust in scholarly publishing. With decades of experience and candid insight, Joy Moore and Kent Anderson call out some of the most pressing contradictions facing the publishing world today. They explore how publishers risk losing sight of their core values by chasing tech trends, and why the goals of science and technology may not always align. From the shift of open access from movement to monoculture to the rise of platform governance, they raise serious questions about sustainability, ethics, and trust. Together with host Nikesh, the conversation spans the role of leadership, the influence of funders, and the assumptions shaping how research is accessed and shared. A must-listen for anyone who wants to repair—not just rewire—how science is communicated. Social media links Nikesh Gosalia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/ https://x.com/NikeshGo Joy Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-moore-a94865/ Kent Anderson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentranderson/ Show notes Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Joy Moore and Kent Anderson discussed with Nikesh in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com Scholarly Kitchen | https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/ Caldera Publishing Solutions | https://www.caldera-publishing.com/  American Association for the Advancement of Science | https://www.aaas.org/ New England Journal of Medicine | https://www.nejm.org/ The Geyser | https://www.the-geyser.com/ How the Internet Disrupted Science | https://www.the-geyser.com/how-the-internet-disrupted-science/ Open Access | https://www.openaccess.nl/en eLife | https://elifesciences.org/ National Institutes of Health (NIH) | https://www.nih.gov/ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | https://www.hhs.gov/ National Library of Medicine (NLM) | https://www.nlm.nih.gov/ PubMed | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ Medline | https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medline/medline_overview.html PubMed Central | https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ Crossref | https://www.crossref.org/ ORCID | https://orcid.org/ CHORUS | https://www.chorusaccess.org/ Creative Commons | https://creativecommons.org/ One Nation, One Subscription | https://onos.gov.in/ Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us: LinkedIn /cactus-communications Facebook /CactusCommunications Twitter @Cactusglobal YouTube @CactusCommunications

    1h 6m

  5. JUN 20

    The Metadata Behind the Manuscripts: Ed Pentz on the Future of Scholarly Infrastructure

    Every day, over 8,000 scholarly articles are published—but how do they become discoverable, citable, and connected across journals, databases, and platforms? The answer lies in the invisible infrastructure of scholarly publishing: metadata, persistent identifiers, and interoperability.  In this episode of Insights Xchange, we’re joined by Ed Pentz, Executive Director of Crossref, the organization behind the DOIs and metadata standards that make modern academic publishing possible. Ed shares what it means for Crossref to be the “plumbing” of scholarly communication, why metadata is the unsung hero of research visibility, and how open infrastructure is shaping a more inclusive and discoverable global knowledge ecosystem. We also explore how AI and machine learning are accelerating the demands on metadata, what true interoperability means for equity in global research, and what Ed would redesign if he had the chance to build the scholarly communication ecosystem from scratch.  If you've ever cited a paper or searched for one online, you're already benefiting from the quiet systems Ed and his team have built. Tune in for a fascinating look at the trust, tech, and transformation powering the research world. Social media links Nikesh Gosalia:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/ https://x.com/NikeshGo Ed Pentz https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-pentz-3816223/?originalSubdomain=uk Show notes: Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Ed Pentz and Nikesh discussed in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com  Crossref | https://www.crossref.org/  Wired | https://www.wired.com/ Academic Press | https://booksite.elsevier.com/brochures/academicpress/ Harcourt Brace | https://www.hmhco.com/ Oxford Food Hub | https://oxfordfoodhub.org/ ORCID | https://orcid.org/ ROR (Research Organization Registry) | https://ror.org/ PubMed | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ SSP (Society for Scholarly Publishing) | https://www.sspnet.org/ UKSG (UK Serials Group) | https://www.uksg.org/ ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers) | https://www.alpsp.org/ STM (International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers) | https://stm-assoc.org/ NISO (National Information Standards Organization) | https://www.niso.org/ Open Access | https://www.openaccess.nl/en/what-is-open-access Open Scholarly Infrastructure (POSI) | htt Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us: LinkedIn /cactus-communications Facebook /CactusCommunications Twitter @Cactusglobal YouTube @CactusCommunications

    36 min

  6. APR 7

    Shaping a Global Research Landscape: Trust, Equity, Inclusivity, and Knowledge Communities

    This episode explores the role of trust, inclusivity, and accessibility in global research publishing today. It highlights how biases in editorial boards exclude underrepresented voices and the critical role publishers play in fostering equity. The discussion also examines the balance between commercial realities and open access, emphasizing the need for transparency in scientific communication. The speakers stress the importance of building diverse research communities and ensuring that all researchers, regardless of their background, have a platform to share their work. They advocate for collaboration across the global research community to create a more equitable and inclusive academic future. Social media links: Nikesh Gosalia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/  https://x.com/NikeshGo Ritu Dhand:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritu-dhand-45aa0220/?originalSubdomain=uk https://x.com/RituDhand Show notes: Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Ritu and Nikesh discussed in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com Springer Nature | https://www.springernature.com/gp Nature | https://www.nature.com/ Nature Communications | https://www.nature.com/ncomms/ Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us: LinkedIn /cactus-communications Facebook /CactusCommunications Twitter @Cactusglobal YouTube @CactusCommunications

    49 min

  7. 12/06/2024

    AI, Academic Libraries, and the Future of Research: The Librarian’s Perspective

    In this episode of Insights XChange, host Nikesh Gosalia speaks with Alyssa Grimshaw, a research and education librarian at Yale School of Medicine. Alyssa shares her insights on the evolving role of librarians in fostering research collaboration, especially in clinical settings. She highlights the importance of communication, technology, and interdisciplinary teamwork in advancing research. The conversation delves into how digital tools like AI and preprints are transforming academic libraries, as well as the challenges and opportunities of integrating these innovations into research workflows. Alyssa also emphasizes the critical role of librarians in supporting open science, data sharing, and evidence-based medical practice. Tune in to discover how librarians are adapting to the changing research landscape and shaping the future of academic publishing. Social media links Nikesh Gosalia:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/  https://twitter.com/NikeshGo Alyssa Grimshaw  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-grimshaw/  https://x.com/xalyssagx Show notes: Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Alyssa and Nikesh discussed in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com ResearchGate | https://www.researchgate.net/ Yale School of Medicine | https://medicine.yale.edu/ NIH | https://www.nih.gov/ Open Science | https://www.unesco.org/en/open-science Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us: LinkedIn /cactus-communications Facebook /CactusCommunications Twitter @Cactusglobal YouTube @CactusCommunications

    29 min

  8. 11/21/2024

    The Expanding Influence of AI in Academic Research: Benefits, Pitfalls, and Future Opportunities

    In this episode of Insights XChange, host Nikesh Gosalia speaks with Avi Staiman, founder and CEO of Academic Language Experts and co-founder of SciWriter.ai. They explore the impact of AI on scholarly publishing, discussing its potential benefits and ethical challenges. Avi emphasizes the need to differentiate between various AI applications, asserting that while AI can assist with tasks like language processing and technical checks, critical decisions about research novelty should remain with humans. He highlights the chaotic state of AI disclosure policies among publishers and proposes a risk register for AI tools to help navigate these complexities. They also discuss the role of AI in supporting non-native English researchers and fostering global collaboration. Avi encourages curiosity and experimentation with AI technologies, urging the academic community to embrace these tools responsibly as they continue to evolve, ultimately shaping a more inclusive and efficient research landscape. Social media links Nikesh Gosalia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikeshgosalia/ https://twitter.com/NikeshGo Avi Staiman https://www.linkedin.com/in/avi-staiman-academic-language-experts/?originalSubdomain=il https://x.com/avistaiman Show notes: Thank you for listening! Here are links to some of the things that Avi and Nikesh discussed in the podcast. We would love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a line at insightsxchange@cactusglobal.com Name URL Academic Language Experts | https://www.aclang.com/ Sciwriter.ai | https://www.sciwriter.ai/ Scholarly Kitchen | https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/ Springer Nature Poll | https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/ai Oxford | https://corp.oup.com/ Grammarly | https://app.grammarly.com/ Scispace | https://typeset.io/ RDiscovery | https://discovery.researcher.life/ EU AI Act | https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/ University of Southern California | https://www.usc.edu/ STM Integrity Hub | https://stm-assoc.org/what-we-do/strategic-areas/research-integrity/integrity-hub/ Ithaca | https://www.ithaca-project.eu/ Signals | https://signal-ai.com/commitment-to-responsible-ai/ ClearSkies | https://clear-skies.co.uk/ Professor Tu Youyou | https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2015/tu/facts/ Chinese Academy of Natural Medicine | http://en.cacms.ac.cn/ Artemisinin | https://www.britannica.com/science/artemisinin Technion Institute in Israel | https://cris.technion.ac.il/en/publications/ Secana AI | https://sakana.ai/ai-scientist/ Gamma | https://gamma.app/ Scite | https://scite.ai/ Insights Xchange is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Follow us: LinkedIn /cactus-communications Facebook /CactusCommunications Twitter @Cactusglobal YouTube @CactusCommunications

    52 min
See All (52)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Insights Xchange podcast, brought to you by Cactus Communications (CACTUS). Hosted by Nikesh Gosalia, this podcast is your guide to the world of research and academic publishing. Tune in to hear lively discussions with experts from the academic and publishing realms.  Earlier known as All Things SciComm, the new series covers a variety of topics, from the latest trends in academic publishing to critical issues faced by researchers in an increasingly AI-driven world. Join us for insightful conversations and expert perspectives that will help you navigate the exciting world of academia. Whether you're a researcher, publisher, or just curious about academic insights, this podcast hopes to be your go-to source for understanding the evolving landscape of academic publishing. Stay ahead, stay informed, and let's explore the fascinating world of research and knowledge together!

Information