HBKU Press to Publish 4th International Whale Shark Conference Proceedings

New Partnership Helps Authors Raise Visibility, Share Research and Maximise Article Influence

Doha, Qatar: 16 May 2016 – Hamad bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press) is collaborating with Maersk Oil Research and Technology Centre to publish proceedings from the 4th International Whale Shark Conference (IWSC), taking place in Qatar from the 16th to the 18th of May. Proceedings will be available on QScience.com, the online, open-access publishing platform of HBKU Press.

The goal of the partnership is to maximize the global influence and impact of IWSC by widening access to its published research and proceedings. Through QScience.com and QScience Proceedings, HBKU Press will provide a forum for the dissemination of abstracts given at the conference. Furthermore, all proceedings are open access and free-to-read, thereby maximizing reach and impact. 

Through this type of partnership, HBKU Press strives to fulfill a key component of its mission: widening access to scholarly content. Examples of previous partnerships include the SLA-AGC 22nd Annual Conference, the Qatar Green Building Conference and the Global Innovators Conference, among others. For each conference, QScience.com publishes a special volume, with its own dedicated web page, and every abstract or paper is citable through a digital object identifier link. 

“Our partnership with Maersk Oil Qatar reflects our commitment to academic research and open access,” said Dr. Alwaleed Alkhaja, Senior Editor at HBKU Press. “Through QScience Proceedings, we are able to widen access to the important discussions, collaborations, and findings taking place at IWSC, thereby reaching the broadest possible audience regardless of physical boundaries”.

The special issue for the 4th International Whale Conference is currently available to view at http://www.qscience.com/toc/qproc/2016/2. 

Abdularahman Al Emadi, Head of the Maersk Oil Research and Technology Centre said: “We are proud to collaborate with HBKU Press in publishing more than 60 abstracts that will be presented during the International Whale Shark Conference.  The open platform of QScience means that this vital research can be accessed globally for free so that researchers and conservations around the world can benefit.  It is also helping to establish Qatar as a centre of research excellence in this field and preserve the unique marine environments and life in local waters.”

Participants in the conference will also be able to learn more about HBKU Press and QScience.com by visiting its booth at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Doha.