23 Reflections to Recap Zendy's 2023 Journey
Dec 15, 2023 |
17 Mins Read
Welcome to Zendy’s annual recap, where we reflect on another year of milestones. The ever-evolving landscape of scholarly communication this year was anything but stagnant, dominated by themes of openness, integrity, inclusion, and innovation. As we reflect on 2023, we're proud to have welcomed new publishers, attended events, celebrated milestones with our users, and released some really great features to continue to support our users on their research and learning journey.
How we enhanced our user experience
- We developed and launched ZAIA
Our most anticipated and exciting feature launch this year was ZAIA - Zendy's AI assistant. Ask any question, and ZAIA will analyse millions of researchers papers to give you credible answers backed by references. If you haven't already, log in to your Zendy account and put ZAIA to the test!
- We launched Zendy Plus globally
We launched our global subscription plan at Frankfurt Book Fair 2023! The plan allows students, researchers and professionals globally to access scholarly material from leading publishers for the monthly price of a single research paper. This was a key milestone for us as our previous Zendy Plus plan was limited to several countries. Having an affordable and equitable access model strengthens our mission to remove the barriers to scholarly literature.
- Keyphrase Highlighting
We released an AI-powered keyphrase highlighting tool. Instead of having multiple tabs open, looking for definitions and further research on a concept, Zendy highlights keyphrases in just one click to allow readers to grasp key research concepts quickly.
- Summarisation
We also released an AI-powered summarisation tool. This tool summarises lengthy research papers into a concise paragraph on demand. This significantly helps readers save time during literature review.
- Reading Lists
Earlier this year, we launched a reading list feature. Reading lists can be used to organise and categorise research papers according to projects, subject areas or whichever method the reader finds simplest to navigate through.
- New UI coming soon
The team has been working on a brand new UI to transform the user journey on Zendy. Zendy will reveal a new fresh look very soon, with additional personalisation features to further enhance the discovery of scholarly literature.
Milestones we marked with our users
- Welcomed over 400,000 readers
We’re proud to support over 400,000 readers from 200 countries and territories on Zendy! We thank our valued community for their consistent support. The trust of our community fuels our mission to keep striving for a world where equal access to research is a reality.
- Over a 6 million searches & 2.5 million downloads
We have seen over 6 million keywords searched on the platform. Searches ranging from the neural networks, to enteric bacteria, and social impact - we’re proud to support a diverse community of students, researchers, and professionals. We marked over 2.5 million downloads on Zendy! As we continue to work with new publishers, we look forward to bringing an even better selection of content to our readers.
We exhibited, presented, and attended many events!
- Presented at Charleston Hub 2023
Our Partner Relations Manager, Sara Crowley Vigneau presented at Charleston Hub in partnership with IGI Global. The presentation titled ‘On the Open Road: The story of an OA publication through the stakeholder journey’ looked at the journey of a publication through the eyes of each custodian.
- Exhibited at STEP 2023
Earlier this year, our team exhibited Zendy at STEP 2023. Showcasing our Zendy alongside various startups inspired the team to learn from other tech products in the Middle Eastern region.
- Sponsored and presented at the Forum for Open Research MENA
We were proud to sponsor the Forum of Open Research MENA, which is an event that highlights and advances open access initiatives in the Arab region. Our head of technology, Rodrigo Pinto, presented his insightful research paper titled, "Leveraging Big Data and Machine Learning to Enhance Open Data Quality: Insights for Developing Regions."
- Exhibited at Frankfurt Book Fair
It was a pleasure to exhibit and connect with new and existing partners at Frankfurt Book fair 2023. We hosted a launch event at this year's fair, showcasing our Zendy Plus global subscription offering. Thanks to all who attended!
- Presented at the MENA Panel
Our co-founder, Kamran Kardan spoke at The MENA panel titled, “AI wrote this abstract: The Impact of AI on higher education and academic research.” The discussion touched on the impact of AI on higher education, dissecting how it affects teaching, learning and ethical guidelines.
- Attended London Book Fair
We attended the London Book Fair earlier this year. Our team met with many of our partners and other key leaders in scholarly communication. We look forward to exhibiting at next year’s fair.
- Exhibited at UKSG 2023
We also exhibited at our first UKSG conference this year. It was a really great experience connecting with and learning from some of the best minds in our global knowledge community.
- Joint Webinar with InTechOpen
We partnered with InTechOpen to host a joint webinar titled, “Emerging Technologies - Partnering for Accessibility, Discoverability and a Sustainable Future.” Zendy’s Head of Marketing, Monica Chinsami, presented on the panel alongside Prof Tatiana Morosuk, Editorial Board Member of IntechOpen's Green Energy and Environmental Technology (GEET) journal, and Dr Jo Havemann, Co-founder of AfricArXiv.
We welcomed new partners
- IEEE
In September, we integrated IEEE’s open access research content. This partnership has brought significant technological research across various areas of study, like aerospace, robotics and more on Zendy.
- IT Governance
In June, we partnered with IT Governance, which is a leading publisher of books on information technology, cybersecurity and governance.
- IGI Global
We partnered with IGI Global, a leading publisher focused on research across different specialisms under the vast umbrella of Science. This partnership saw the addition of leading e-journals as well as book content across subject areas including Business & Management; Scientific, Technical, Medical (STM); and Education.
- Bristol University Press
We also signed an agreement with Bristol University Press. BUP is well known for producing scholarship that advances theory, knowledge and learning within and beyond academia.
- InTechOpen
We also welcomed IntechOpen to our partner community. InTechOpen specialises in journals and books in the fields of Medicine, Technology and Science.
A couple of things we published
- Published SDG Report
This year, we published an SDG report in partnership with Knowledge E. This comprehensive report helps us keep track of our efforts in accelerating the aims of the UN’s publishers compact. With a focus on SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), Zendy progresses to ensure that academic research is accessible to everyone everywhere.
- An analysis of OER’s on Research Information
Our co-founder, Kamran Kardan, wrote a piece on the future of Open Educational Resources and how the industry is preparing for them. In summary, with the uncapped potential of responsible AI, the future looks bright and full of innovative opportunities to positively impact societal progress.
We look forward to continuing our journey together in 2024, and we thank you for your unwavering support.
How to Write a Strong Literature Review (With Examples)
In a previous blog, we highlighted top 5 best AI tools for literature review that offer a large collection of research materials to support your research. Now, in this blog, we will go through the process and the 3 pillars of writing lit review while providing a real-life literature review example to help you grasp the concept with ease. What's a Literature Review? A literature review is a summary of what other researchers have already discovered about your topic. It helps you figure out what's already known, what questions still need answers, and how your own research fits into the bigger picture. What Are the 3 Pillars of Literature Review? Introduction The introduction of a literature review should: Provide context for the topic Define the scope and purpose of the review Outline the organisational framework Present a clear thesis statement Body The body of the literature review is where you analyse and synthesise existing research. Consider organising your review by: Themes or concepts Chronological order Methodological approaches Conclusion A strong conclusion should: Summarise key findings Highlight contributions to the field Discuss implications and applications Suggest directions for future research Tips on How to Write a Great Literature Review Read widely to get a full picture of your topic. Don't just summarise - analyse and compare different studies. Look for patterns and gaps in the research. Keep your writing clear and logical. Use transition words to help your ideas flow smoothly. How Zendy Can Help with Your Literature Review In order to write a strong literature review you need to find the right sources, and of course a tools to help accelerate the process. Zendy.io isn’t just a digital library that offers access to relevant studies across disciplines, but it also helps you write a solid literature review, Zendy AI tools include features designed to help you with literature reviews. You can: Summarise lengthy research articles instantly Highlight key phrases and findings Ask ZAIA, your personal AI research assistant, to explain complex papers Compare multiple sources to find common themes or gaps It’s a simple way to stay focused, save time, and actually enjoy the process. Real-Life Literature Review Example This is my favourite example of a literature review! Assume you're reviewing literature on climate change and agriculture: "Researchers have been studying how climate change affects farming for decades. Early studies in the 1990s focused mainly on crop yields (Stephen, 1992; Iana, 1995). As time went on, scientists started looking at more complex issues. For example, Sleman (2005) examined how changing rainfall patterns affect soil quality, while Monica (2010) investigated the spread of new crop diseases in warmer temperatures. Recent research has taken a broader view. Emad (2018) looked at how climate change impacts entire food systems, from farm to table. Meanwhile, Rodrigo (2020) explored how small-scale farmers in developing countries are adapting to new weather patterns. Despite all this research, we still don't know enough about how climate change will affect food security in specific regions. Future studies could focus on creating detailed, local predictions to help farmers prepare for what's ahead." See how this example of literature review flows naturally from one idea to the next? It gives you a clear picture of how research in this area has evolved over time. Other Examples of Literature Review Chronological literature review example: Learners’ Listening Comprehension Difficulties in English Language Learning: A Literature Review Methodological literature review example: Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines Theoretical literature review example: Why Do People Migrate? A Review of the Theoretical Literature Thematic literature review example: The Use of Technology in English Language Learning: A Literature Review Other literature review example: The Economics of Global Climate Change: A Historical Literature Review University of West Florida: Literature Review: Conducting & Writing By following these tips and studying literature review examples, you'll be ready to start writing a solid literature review. Remember, the key is to organise your sources, explain how they connect, and point out what still needs to be studied. Happy researching! .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
The Journal of Financial Economics
A top peer-reviewed journal since 1974 published by Elsevier, founded by Michael C. Jensen, Eugene Fama, and Robert C. Merton. The Journal of Financial Economics (JEF) serves as a dedicated platform for publishing high-quality studies on financial markets, corporate finance, financial intermediation, entrepreneurial finance, corporate governance, organisational economics, macro-finance, behavioural finance, and household finance. Focused on both theoretical and empirical research in financial economics. The Journal of Financial Economics prioritises rigorous empirical, theoretical, and experimental contributions, particularly those related to the theory of the firm and financial economics. Journal of Financial Economics Impact Factor and Rankings According to the latest updates from VU Journal Publishing Guide, The Journal of Financial Economics has made a big impact, with an impressive 10.4 impact factor as of 2024. That puts it among the top economics and finance journals globally. It ranks 5th out of 600 in the Economics category and takes the top spot—1st out of 233—in Business, Finance. These rankings highlight just how influential the journal is in its field. AbbreviationJ. FINANC. ECONISSN0304-405X (1879-2774)eISSN:N/ACategoryAccounting (Q1); Economics and Econometrics (Q1); Finance (Q1); Strategy and Management (Q1)WoS Core Citation IndexesSSCI - Social Sciences Citation IndexJournal Impact Factor (JIF)10.45-year Impact Factor11.4Best ranking:ECONOMICS (Q1) Percentage rank: 99.2%CountrySWITZERLANDPublisherElsevier Source: WoS Journal of Financial Economics Scopus Metrics According to Scopus data for 2023, the journal's metrics are equally impressive: SCImago Journal Rank (SJR): 13.655 Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP): 5.048 CiteScore: 15.8 These metrics reinforce the journal's reputation as a leader in its field, with high rankings in many categories including Accounting, Finance, Economics and Econometrics, and Strategy and Management. Journal of Financial Economics H-index and Citations The Journal of Financial Economics has an exceptional h-index of 311, indicating that at least 311 articles published in the journal have been cited at least 311 times each. This high h-index reflects the journal's strong impact and the enduring relevance of its published research. What is The Scope of The Journal of Financial Economics? The journal covers a wide range of topics within finance and economics, including: Accounting Economics and Econometrics Finance Strategy and Management It's particularly known for its applied papers and case studies section, which provides a platform for scholarly studies of actual cases, events, or practices in the financial world. Conclusion The Journal of Financial Economics stands out as a top-tier publication in its field, consistently ranking highly across various metrics. Its high impact factor, impressive SJR, and strong h-index all point to its significant influence in the world of financial economics. For researchers and professionals in finance and economics, publishing or referencing articles from this journal can lend considerable weight to their work. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
How to Find Peer-Reviewed Articles for Your Research
If you're doing research, you'll want to use reliable sources. Peer-reviewed articles are among the best because experts review them before they're published, ensuring quality and credibility. The benefits of expert peer review in research are significant—it helps maintain high standards, validates findings, and improves the overall reliability of academic work. But how do you find these peer-reviewed journal articles, and how can you tell if a journal is peer-reviewed? Let's break it down. What Are Peer-Reviewed Articles? A peer-reviewed article is one that has been checked by other experts in the field before publication. This process helps make sure the research is solid and trustworthy. Where Can You Find Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles? You can find peer-reviewed articles in a few different places: University Libraries – If you're a student or faculty member, your university library probably gives you access to research databases. Academic Databases – Websites like PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science have collections of scholarly peer-reviewed articles. Zendy – Affordable and accessible peer-reviewed scholarly content, in partnerships with leading publishers e.g., IntechOpen, IEEE, IT Governance Publishing, and IGI Global, powered by AI. Google Scholar – Some journal articles here are peer-reviewed, but not all. You’ll need to check the source. See The Growth of Digital Libraries: Benefits, Challenges & Trajectory How to Recognise Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles There are 4 ways to check if a journal is peer-reviewed or not: Visit the Journal’s Website – Look for a section about their review process. Use Library Databases – Many academic databases label peer-reviewed journals. Check the Editorial Board – A peer-reviewed journal usually lists experts who review submissions. Look It Up on Ulrichsweb – This directory can tell you if a journal is peer-reviewed. Are Google Scholar Articles Peer-Reviewed? Not necessarily. Google Scholar collects all sorts of academic work, including conference papers and preprints, which may not have gone through peer review. To check, see if the article was published in a reputable journal. What Is a Peer Review Example? Let’s say a scientist submits a research paper to a journal. The editor sends it to other experts, who review it for accuracy and clarity. And then they might suggest changes or reject the paper if it doesn’t meet the journal’s standards. So if the paper gets approved, it’s published as a peer-reviewed article. What’s the Difference Between Peer Review and an Original Article? Peer Review – A process where experts evaluate a research paper before it’s published. Original Article – A research paper that presents new findings. Some original articles are peer-reviewed, while others aren’t. How To Select Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles? When looking for peer-reviewed articles: Check the Journal – Make sure it's known for publishing peer-reviewed articles. Look at the Author’s Background – Are they an expert in the field? Review the References – Good research builds on other credible studies. Use Trusted Databases – Databases like Zendy, PubMed, and Scopus focus on peer-reviewed work. How Do You Know If a Peer-Reviewed Article Is Credible? Even among scholarly peer-reviewed journals, some are more reliable than others. Here’s what to look for: Reputation of the Journal – Some journals have stricter standards than others. Possible Bias – If a study is funded by a company with an interest in the results, for example, a pharmaceutical company funding a study on its own medication might have an interest in positive findings, be cautious. Strong Research Methods – A reliable, peer-reviewed article clearly explains how the research was conducted and how conclusions were reached. Retraction History – Some papers are later retracted due to mistakes or misconduct. Check if the article has been retracted. Final Thoughts It’s not hard to find peer-reviewed journal articles; it just takes a trusted source and a clear understanding of what you’re looking for. Digital libraries like Zendy give you access to everything you need in one place, including both free and paywalled peer-reviewed articles, with over 40 million articles across disciplines like engineering, medicine, economics, and more. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }