In the US, your taxes fund academic research at public universities. Why then do you need to pay expensive, for-profit journals for the results of that research? Erica Stone advocates for a new, open-access relationship between the public and scholars, making the case that academics should publish in more accessible media. "A functioning democracy requires that the public be well-educated and well-informed," Stone says. "Instead of research happening behind paywalls and bureaucracy, wouldn't it be better if it was unfolding right in front of us?"

Erica Stone: Academic research is publicly funded -- why isn't it publicly available?

Academic research is publicly funded -- why isn't it publicly available?

Advocating for open-access journals and popular media as platforms, democratizing research to foster informed communities.

Tax-funded research is often locked behind paywalls, a paradox where public investment yields privately gated knowledge.

Opening research access can redefine universities, emphasizing their academic contributions over commercial or athletic fame.