Social Responsibility

Advancing trusted research for the benefit of society

STM is dedicated to driving a profound impact on the world by advancing trusted research that contributes to the improvement of the human condition. We recognize our collective responsibility in fostering a scholarly publishing ecosystem that not only generates reliable knowledge but also ensures it reaches those who can use it to effect positive change. Our commitment to social responsibility is rooted in the belief that scholarly publishing should play a leading role in addressing global sustainability challenges.

The way we see it

By emphasizing inclusivity, equity, and sustainability, we strive to support the scholarly publishing industry’s role in addressing the most pressing global issues. This means not only producing and disseminating high-quality research but also ensuring that this research is accessible and actionable for researchers, policymakers, and the public. Through collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to research integrity, STM supports its members in creating a more inclusive research ecosystem—one that advances society and maximizes the impact of trusted research.

Quick access

FEATURE

Level 3 of the SDG Sustainability Roadmap is now live!

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Meet the Committee

STM’s Social Responsibility Committee drives collective action across academic and scholarly publishing that will positively contribute to a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world for both people and planet.

The core work of the committee covers three main areas:
1) responsible business practices
2) sector wide partnerships
3) maximizing the impact of trusted research through the lens of sustainability, inclusivity, and equity.

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  • Colette Bean, APS (STM Board Sponsor)
  • Deirdre Black, Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Dana Compton, ASCE
  • Bill Deluise, Wiley
  • Clare Kernie, IEEE
  • Jo Lacey, Sage
  • Liz Martin, IOPP
  • Rachel Martin, Elsevier (Chair)
  • Tony Roche, Emerald
  • Ralf Schimmer, Wiley
  • Thea Sherer, Springer Nature
  • Katherine VanDenburgh, AIP

Core Initiatives

SDG Roadmap

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the United Nations blueprint to deliver a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable society for both people and planet. Academic publishers play a pivotal role in helping to achieve these goals, both through their own organizational policies but also through the knowledge published in journals and books. Yet, it can be overwhelming for publishers to translate the SDG’s broad goals that seek to end poverty, address climate action and bring about gender equality to their daily work and organization.

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Research4Life

Research4Life is a public-private partnership between WHO, FAO, UNEP, WIPO, ILO, Cornell and Yale Universities, STM and up to 200 individual publisher partners. Its goal is to reduce the scientific knowledge gap for low and middle-income countries by providing researchers in eligible institutions with free or low-cost access to academic and professional peer-reviewed research journals, books and other resources, as well as helping them to develop the skills required to play an equal role in the research communication ecosystem.

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Diversity & Inclusion

To build a sustainable future, diversity and inclusion must be prioritized across the research publishing industry. The D&I Task & Finish Group is developing a roadmap with actionable steps to foster greater representation and inclusivity in our organizations. Learn more about our work and how we’re shaping the future of academic publishing

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The Latest from STM

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Introducing the STM Digital Carbon Calculator

*Announcements *Climate *Social Responsibility 08/27/25

Measuring our impact, together. At STM, we believe that advancing research should go hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility. That’s why we’re proud to launch the STM Digital Carbon Calculator — a practical new tool designed to help academic publishers understand and reduce the carbon footprint of their digital journals. Every digital article hosted, accessed, and cited…

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Protecting Progress: The Case for Staying Committed to Sustainability in 2025

*In the media *Social Responsibility 07/22/25

The framework of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has, over the past decade, generated a tremendous amount of global cooperation, innovation, and support to drive transformative change within our communities. This might be attributed to the global nature of the challenges, as the SDG framework sets out to address universal issues from climate change…

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Join STM’s Social Responsibility Committee

*Announcements *Social Responsibility 06/17/25

Are you part of an STM member organisation and looking for a way to get more involved? STM’s Social Responsibility Committee is in need of three new members. The term runs two to three years, and the committee meets monthly to take action for equitable, inclusive and sustainable practices in scholarly publishing. Learn more about STM’s…

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Now live: Level 3 of the SDG Sustainability Roadmap | Driving targeted action for global impact

*Announcements *Core Services *Social Responsibility 06/09/25

STM is proud to announce the launch of Level 3 of its SDG Sustainability Roadmap, a new benchmark for how academic publishers can contribute meaningfully to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building on the foundations set in Levels 1 & 2, this advanced stage equips organisations with the tools to deliver focused, targeted actions…

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