Cameron Neylon

Professional Summary: Professor Cameron Neylon

Professor Cameron Neylon is a distinguished academic and advocate for open science, currently based at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. With a background in chemistry and a deep commitment to transforming research communication, he has established himself as a thought leader in the domains of scholarly publishing, data sharing, and research policy.

Academic Background and Degrees

Professor Neylon holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry from the University of Western Australia. He completed his PhD in Biophysical Chemistry at the Australian National University, focusing on structural biology and protein interactions.

Research Specializations and Academic Interests

Professor Neylon’s academic interests center on the intersection of technology, policy, and research practice. His work primarily focuses on:

• Open Science and Open Access to research outputs
• Research data management and sharing
• Scholarly communication and the future of publishing
• Science policy and the cultural dynamics of research communities

Career History and Appointments

Professor Neylon has held numerous significant positions across academia and research advocacy:

• Professor of Research Communications, Curtin University, Australia (current)
• Director of Knowledge Unlatched, a global initiative for open access publishing (2019–present)
• Advocacy Director, PLOS (Public Library of Science), where he championed open access policies (2012–2015)
• Senior Scientist, Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK (2009–2012)
• Early career research and teaching roles in chemistry and structural biology at institutions including the University of Southampton

Major Awards, Fellowships, and Honors

Professor Neylon has been recognized for his contributions to open science and scholarly communication:

• Recipient of the Blue Obelisk Award for contributions to open data and open science (2010)
• Named among influential figures in open access advocacy by various academic communities

Key Publications

Professor Neylon has authored numerous influential papers and articles on open science and research communication. A selection of notable works includes:

• “The Altmetrics Manifesto” (2010) – Co-authored, advocating for alternative metrics to measure research impact
• “Open Access: What, Where, When, How and Why?” (2019) – Published in Science, discussing the future of open access
• “The Political Economies of Knowledge Production on Wikipedia” (2017) – Exploring collaborative knowledge creation
• Regular contributions to blogs and platforms such as Science in the Open, where he discusses research culture and policy

Influence and Impact on Academic Field

Professor Neylon is widely regarded as a pioneer in the open science movement. His advocacy for open access and transparent research practices has influenced global policies on scholarly publishing and data sharing. Through his leadership roles at PLOS and Knowledge Unlatched, he has helped shape initiatives that make research more accessible to diverse audiences. His work on altmetrics has also contributed to evolving discussions on how research impact is measured beyond traditional citation counts.

Public Lectures, Committees, and Editorial Contributions

Professor Neylon is an active participant in the global academic community, frequently engaging in public discourse and governance:

• Regular speaker at international conferences on open science, including events hosted by SPARC and OpenCon
• Member of advisory boards and committees focused on research policy and open access, including past roles with the Open Knowledge Foundation
• Contributor to editorial boards and reviewer for journals in the fields of scholarly communication and science policy