Networks and conferences

Sharing research outputs in scholarly collaboration networks

Scholarly collaboration networks (SCNs) or academic social networks (ASN) are professional social networks that facilitate sharing and collaboration on research outputs. Examples include ResearchGate; Academia.edu ; and others.

Social media are useful tools for disseminating your research and building professional networks. Avoid infringing copyright by using publisher provided share links rather than uploading copies. However, if you do upload copies, make sure you follow the publishers’ conditions for sharing articles. Find publisher sharing policies. on the Jisc Open policy finder (formerly called Sherpa Romeo).

Read One more word about ResearchGate/Academia.edu and why using these platforms will never be equal to proper self-archiving for more information.

Conferences and public presentations

Consider copyright and other IP when preparing to present at a conference.

Request permission from the copyright owner if you are using third party copyright material in your presentation or conference paper. Use openly licensed or public domain material whenever possible.

The conference organisers will need your agreement to distribute your presentation. If you have included third party material, the organisers may need copies of any permissions received from the copyright owners.

Read the publishing agreements carefully. Make sure they align with any funder requirements and do not limit your rights to reuse the content in journal articles or a thesis. Do you retain the rights to share your content?

If you intend to register your IP, make sure the application is submitted before public disclosure at a conference. See IP requiring registration for more information.

Be aware of the potential for your presentation or parts of it to be unofficially recorded and end up on social media.