Scientific communication in Libya in the digital age

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the scientific communication activities of Libyan scientists, and their engagement with scientific publishing. The research embraces both formal and informal communication, and explores that behaviour in the context of a developing country, Libya. A mixed methods approach including desk research, a bibliometric study of recent scientific output, interviews with key informants, and a questionnaire survey with scientists is used to gather rich data and to generate deep insights into scientific communication behaviours. Findings suggest that Libyan scientists affirm the centrality of scientific communication to successful science, but that the nature of communication is influenced by national and other cultures, and in particular, Libyan scientists value informal scientific communication. They also both access and publish in e-journals and in open access sources but are aware of a range of barriers to scientific communication in the digital age.