This course covers and discusses the development of open science, the evaluation of research, and the development of information technology, as well as how these changes affect norms and practices in academia. Disciplinary differences in publishing practices and their consequences for how research is communicated are another central theme.

The practice and theory of scientific publishing is studied in depth with a particular focus on the roles of research libraries and the librarian profession. This course combines practical components focusing on the management of publication databases, open data, and bibliometric analysis with in-depth theory on the historical development of scientific communication. Overall, this course aims to provide a general understanding as well as deeper insights into the history, current structure, and future challenges of scientific communication. This course ends with a conference in which students present their insights and knowledge from the course, both in writing and orally.