Predatory journals, publishers and conferences are on the rise and becoming increasingly sophisticated. These practices prey on the pressure researchers feel to publish and present their work, and include pay-to-publish/present models without peer review, fake editorial boards listing respected scientists, fraudulent impact factors, journal and conference names deceptively similar to those of legitimate ones, and spam invitations to sham conferences with high registration fees.

Led by an independent working group of international experts nominated by academies around the world, this IAP study set out to improve the understanding of what constitutes predatory practices, gauge their prevalence and impact, identify their root causes and review efforts to address them. A key part of the study has been a voluntary survey of the global research community to gauge the awareness, extent and impact of predatory journals and conferences across different geographies, disciplines and career stages.