Anybody with experience with SciPod?

[phyzguy]

Hi all. I've been approached by SciPod to contribute a short video on my work. Has anyone here done this? Are they reputable? Are they worth the effort?

Here's a link: https://www.scipod.global/

 

[kuruman]

I was intrigued by your query and, knowing nothing about scipod, I googled it. It took me little time to find this
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_reliable_and_scientifically_relevant_is_Scipod
It is informative.

 

[nomadreid]

I was intrigued by your query and, knowing nothing about scipod, I googled it. It took me little time to find this
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_reliable_and_scientifically_relevant_is_Scipod
It is informative.

Especially the second answer in that post. The first answer seems to be a model for a promotion written by an interested party.

 

[kuruman]

Especially the second answer in that post. The first answer seems to be a model for a promotion written by an interested party.

In all fairness, the first answer is promoted to that position because it is the most recent answer. Other queries on that site also have the most recent answer up on top. The way I read it, some people find it useful to promote their work while others don't.

To @phyzguy:
You asked if they are reputable. To me the answer depends on the extent to which contributions are scrutinized by third parties and that is what I would try to ascertain before contributing.

Out of curiosity, when they approached you for your contribution, was a fee mentioned?

 

[phyzguy]

No fee was mentioned. Here is the main part of the message I received. I am inclined to do it, but I thought I would check here first:

"I would like to speak with you about your studies and our interest to feature your work in our video publication, SciPod.

If you are not already familiar with SciPod, then please allow me to quickly summarise. We do not disclose researchers’ results for the first time; instead, we make already peer-reviewed research understandable and widely available to a broader audience, so that non-specialists can learn about the research and appreciate the potential impact.

Given the significant change in the way information is disseminated and accessed, people want more from researchers, academic institutions, and industry than ever before. It is now widely accepted that public outreach is a fundamental aspect of a researchers career. While many do recognize this, it can be a challenge to find the time to do it effectively. Video communication has become the most effective digital communication format in recent years and we are helping many research groups create additional impact through short animated research summaries.

Here is an example video from a group we have recently worked with. As you can see, our style is different to traditional scholarly publishing and our aim is to connect science and society in an exciting and original way: https://www.scipod.global/dr-willia...hy-of-voter-turnout-impacts-election-results/ "

 

[kuruman]

No fee was mentioned.

Thanks for the reply. If you are inclined to do it, go for it and post the link when it comes out.

 

[phyzguy]

Turns out there is in fact a substantial fee, so I told them I'm not interested. Why should I pay them to help populate their website?

Thanks for the responses here. It never would have occurred to me to ask if there was a fee.

 

[kuruman]

Why should I pay them to help populate their website?

Others have asked the same question in the reasearchgate.net reference. It seems that what they publish is not hitherto unpublished work. To me at least, it appears to be meant for people who feel that their work is languishing as it waits to be "discovered" in some professional journal. Presumably, scipod helps their work reach a wider audience, perhaps across disciplines, thus facilitating the recognition of this work. Whether they make a difference is for their customers to decide. Personally, I am leery of people who approach me with unsolicited offers to do something for me.