Open Science

The central role of science in tackling society's biggest challenges has never been clearer, as global issues such as climate change, lifelong health, disease, and food security become ever more pressing concerns.

Having worked to advance molecular bioscience for over 100 years, we believe the open exchange of ideas represents the fundamental basis of scientific progress, which is why our activities are geared towards facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange in increasingly interconnected and multidisciplinary ways.

In support of open science, two leading review journals from the Biochemical Society will be published open access (OA) during 2026. Publishing and accessing content within these journals will be fee-free for authors and readers respectively. All profits from our journals are returned to the Society to support our charitable aims, allowing us to better serve current and future generations of scientists.

Find out more about how we continue to embed open approaches across our activities for the benefit of all.

Making research more open

We support sustainable open access that maximises the availability of research, which is why, with institutional support, we’re able to announce two of our journals will be published open access with no author-facing fees in 2026. The success of this model for these titles means we’re able to open journals while still protecting the financial sustainability of the Society. The offer will be repeated again in 2027, with thresholds being assessed to determine which titles will open for that year.

Close-up of the colorful sheets of open book

Close-up of scientist conducting microbiology healthcare pharma production in a lab

Biochemists in a lab undertaking a Biochemical Society training exercise

Broadening participation

The widest possible engagement with science and participation across all sections of society is fundamental to the principles of open science. We help students and researchers communicate their work and promote public engagement with the molecular biosciences, wherever they are in the world.

Biochemical Society stand at an event featuring outreach and engagement activities

Children undertaking a public engagement activity

Outlines of two white brains on a blue background

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The advancement of molecular bioscience necessitates a diverse and representative space where everyone feels welcome and empowered to contribute. We continue to focus on cultivating a sense of belonging that affords opportunity to all, embedding EDI principles across our work.

Closeup of multicolored test tubes in chemical laboratory

Female teacher showing three young children how to conduct a science experiment

Hear from President of the Biochemical Society

Our support for sustainable open access means we've pledged to provide funder and institutionally compliant open access routes for all articles published in our journals by February 2025. Our President, Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, discusses how transitioning to open access publishing is helping us support the molecular bioscience community.

Open Science position statement

We've been facilitating the sharing of knowledge from across the molecular biosciences for 100 years and our Open Science position statement sets out the key principles underpinning our support of open practices, placing equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our agenda.

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