Creating a new option for online-only research articles: PNAS Plus

Most scholars now view scientific literature online. Although the print version of PNAS has a venerable history, the clear advantages of electronic publication compel a change in our print and online formats. The PNAS Editorial Board and the National Academy of Sciences Council have approved an experiment regarding the exclusive publication of papers online, PNAS Plus, that we hope will encourage our authors and readers to embrace the electronic future.

Beginning in January 2011, PNAS will consider Direct Submission manuscripts for exclusive publication online. To encourage a transition in this direction, we will increase the usual page limit from 6 to 10 pages and will eliminate charges for online color images in PNAS Plus papers. All papers will still undergo rigorous peer-review prior to publication.

With this dramatic change, we plan a gradual shift in the content of the PNAS print version. PNAS Plus authors will be asked to contribute a one- to two-page summary statement of their work written with the broad readership of the journal in mind. These summary statements will appear online and in print, and may contain one color or black-and-white figure.

PNAS Plus submissions will be voluntary. Authors who wish to have their work published online and in print are free to do so, but the six-page limit will remain for such papers. PNAS Plus will apply to Direct Submissions only; papers contributed by NAS members will, at least for the initial year of this experiment, continue in both online and print format.

After one year, the Board and the Council will assess the impact of this experiment. If PNAS Plus succeeds, we envision transitioning to a print edition of PNAS in a magazine format comprising special features, commentaries on important papers flagged by member editors and the Editorial Board, and summary statements of the online articles. The Board believes that this experiment will enhance our ability to attract the most interesting science in the broad range of disciplines represented by the National Academy of Sciences. We hope that the new summary statements published online and in print will encourage our readers to sample the many important discoveries published in PNAS.