Jul 9, 2025 |
26 Mins Read
Making Scholarly Research Accessible for Independent Researchers in 2025
Many researchers work outside of universities or formal institutions. These independent researchers often rely on public access to scholarly research to study, write, or contribute to their fields. However, access to scholarly research is not equal. Most academic journals are behind paywalls, which means users must pay to read them unless they are affiliated with an institution that pays for access. In this blog, we’ll explore the structure of academic publishing and how it affects independent researchers. We’ll break down the current challenges, the systems in place, and recent developments designed to improve research accessibility. Why Research Accessibility Matters Research accessibility refers to how easily someone can read, use, and build upon academic studies. For independent researchers, access is often limited because they lack university or library credentials required to unlock paywalled content. A large portion of scholarly research remains behind subscription paywalls. Many journal articles cost between $30 and $50 each, and full journal subscriptions can reach thousands of dollars per year. These costs create a divide between researchers affiliated with institutions and those working independently. Independent researchers may be excluded from current findings, which restricts their ability to contribute to academic conversations. Without equal access, knowledge development becomes uneven. Some communities and individuals are left out, creating a gap in who can participate in scientific and scholarly work. Understanding Open Access Models Open access (OA) refers to academic research that anyone can read online without paying. There are different types of open access, and each works in a specific way. 1. Gold Open Access to Scholarly Research Gold open access means that the final version of a research article is freely available on the publisher's website. The author or their funder usually pays a fee to make the article open. Researchers can find gold open access content in fully open access journals listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). These journals allow anyone to read and download the scholarly research directly from the publisher. Reader benefit: Immediate access to the final, formatted version of articles Limitation: Authors often pay fees ranging from $500-$3000 to publish 2. Green Open Access Green open access is when authors share a version of their article in a free online repository. This version may be a preprint (before peer review) or a postprint (after peer review but before journal formatting). Repositories like arXiv.org specialise in many disciplines, and bioRxiv.org for biology, host these papers. These platforms do not require any affiliation to access the content. Reader benefit: Free access to research content, often before formal publication Limitation: The version available might not be the final published version 3. Diamond Open Access Diamond open access journals make articles freely available to read and do not charge authors any fees to publish. Neither readers nor authors pay. One good example of diamond open access is KnE Publishing, an open access publishing service by Knowledge E, provides high-quality publishing services to support the development and advancement of diamond open access journals, with a particular focus on increasing the visibility and accessibility of scholarly research. This model is often supported by academic institutions or non-profit organisations. The Free Journal Network lists many of these journals. Reader benefit: Completely free access with no barriers Author benefit: No publication fees to share research Open Access ModelWho PaysWhere to FindVersion AvailableGoldAuthors/fundersPublisher websitesFinal published versionGreenNo one (usually)RepositoriesPreprint or postprintDiamondInstitutions/grantsPublisher websitesFinal published version Practical Tools For Independent Researchers Independent researchers need affordable ways to find and use scholarly research. Several tools make this process easier. AI Summarisers AI summarisers extract the main points from academic papers. These AI tools help researchers quickly understand if a paper is relevant to their work without reading the entire document. Zendy's AI summarisation tool identifies key findings, methods, and conclusions from scholarly research papers. This saves time when reviewing large amounts of literature. Time-saving: Condenses hours of reading into minutes Comprehension aid: Helps readers understand complex academic language Literature Discovery Tools Discovery tools help researchers find academic papers and locate free versions when available. Google Scholar indexes scholarly research and sometimes links to free versions. Zendy uses AI to recommend relevant papers based on your interests. Browser extensions like Unpaywall and Open Access Button automatically find legal, free versions of paywalled articles. Broader search: Searches across multiple journals and repositories at once Free alternatives: Identifies open access versions of paywalled content Scholarly Research Reference Manager Tools Reference manager tools help organise research papers and create citations. These tools are essential for independent researchers writing their own papers. Zotero is a free, open-source reference manager that saves papers, creates citations, and integrates with word processors. Mendeley offers similar features with some social networking elements. Organisation: Keeps research papers in one searchable library Citation help: Automatically formats citations in different styles Policy Shifts Empowering Independent Scholars Recent policy changes are increasing the amount of research that is freely available to everyone. These changes help independent researchers access more content without institutional subscriptions. Plan S requires that research funded by certain organisations be published with open access. This means more high-quality scholarly research is becoming freely available to read. Many funding agencies now require researchers to share their findings openly. The National Institutes of Health in the US and UK Research and Innovation have policies requiring funded research to be publicly accessible. Authors are also finding ways to keep their rights to share their work. Rights retention strategies allow researchers to post copies of their articles in public repositories even when publishing in traditional journals. The trend toward open science continues to grow. More institutions are adopting policies that make research outputs—including data, software, and educational materials—freely available by default. Ensuring Accessibility For All Researchers Accessibility in scholarly research goes beyond open access. It also means making content usable for people with disabilities and those using different devices or internet connections. Universal Design Principles Universal design makes scholarly research usable by as many people as possible. This includes clear structure, readable text, and compatibility with assistive tools. Well-designed articles use proper headings, include descriptions for images, and create documents that work with screen readers. These features help all users navigate and understand the content more easily. Examples of accessible design in scholarly research: Structured headings that create a logical outline Alternative text for images and diagrams Tables with proper headers and simple layouts PDF files with proper tagging for screen readers Assistive Technology Compatibility Assistive technologies help people with disabilities access digital content. Researchers need to work well with these tools. Screen readers convert text to speech for people who are blind or have low vision. Text enlargement tools and colour contrast adjusters help people with different visual needs. When looking for accessible research content: PDF accessibility: Look for tagged PDFs that work with screen readers HTML versions: Often more accessible than PDFs for assistive technologies Plain text options: Simple format that works with most assistive tools If you need a more accessible version of any scholarly research, you can contact the publisher directly. Many journals now provide alternative formats upon request. New Innovations in Research Access The landscape of scholarly access continues to evolve with new models and technologies making research more available to independent scholars. AI-powered research assistants are changing how people interact with academic literature. These tools can summarise articles, extract key information, and help researchers find connections between papers. Digital libraries like Zendy are creating alternatives to traditional subscription models. With AI assistants like ZAIA (Zendy's AI assistant for researchers), these platforms not only partner with publishers to offer access to both open and paywalled content at affordable rates for individual researchers, but also enhance the research experience through AI support. The future of scholarly research access looks increasingly open and innovative. New technologies and business models continue to break down barriers between knowledge and those who seek it. FAQs about Accessing Scholarly Research How can independent researchers find free academic articles legally? Independent researchers can use open access repositories like PubMed Central and preprint servers like arXiv. Public libraries sometimes offer access to academic databases, and contacting authors directly often results in them sharing their papers. What makes scholarly research accessible to people with disabilities? Accessible scholarly research uses proper document structure with headings, provides alternative text for images, creates tables that screen readers can navigate, and offers formats compatible with assistive technologies. Articles in HTML format are typically more accessible than PDFs, and properly tagged PDFs are more accessible than untagged ones. How do researchers evaluate the quality of open access journals? Researchers can check if an open access journal is listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), look for clear peer review policies, verify the journal's impact factor, and research the editorial board members. Quality open access journals maintain the same rigorous standards as traditional subscription journals. What AI tool helps independent researchers conduct a literature review? ZAIA, Zendy's AI research assistant, helps independent researchers conduct efficient literature reviews by automatically summarising academic papers, extracting key findings, and identifying connections between related studies. Researchers can also use reference managers like Zotero or Mendeley to organise papers and create citations. Literature mapping tools like VOSviewer help visualise research networks and identify influential papers. For comprehensive literature reviews, ZAIA can recommend relevant papers based on your research interests, saving hours of manual searching across multiple databases. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
Exclusive Offer for Zendy Users: SAVE UP TO 35% on UpToDate® Subscription
Zendy has partnered with UpToDate® to bring you trusted, evidence-based clinical decision support — now at a special discounted rate. As a Zendy user, you can now save up to 35% off annual (or longer) UpToDate® subscriptions. About UpToDate: UpToDate is the evidence-based, physician-authored resource trusted for reliable clinical answers. It incorporates the latest medical findings, the best available evidence, and practical recommendations for patient care — so whatever your clinical question, you can be sure to find the answers you need. With a personal subscription to UpToDate, you can: Benefit from the expertise and clinical experience of more than 7,600 physician authors, editors, and peer reviewers who collaborate to produce trusted evidence-based content and recommendations. Increase your knowledge with access to more than 13,000 clinical topics in 25 specialties. Access select medication dosing and monographs, including interactive tools and enhanced international drug entries from our included drug reference, UpToDate® Lexidrug™. UpToDate® Lab Interpretation and UpToDate® Pathways You can also provide more personalised care with this interactive clinical decision-making resource. With UpToDate® Lab Interpretation and UpToDate® Pathways, included in all newly purchased personal subscriptions, you’ll have access to laboratory monographs and accompanying static algorithms to help you quickly interpret abnormal test results and choose next steps, along with interactive, evidence-based guides you can use for easy navigation of complex decision points‡. UpToDate MobileComplete™ Zendy members can also save on our mobile add-on, UpToDate MobileComplete™. MobileComplete allows you to download our full content onto your mobile device for faster access anywhere. The content is stored on the device for quick and convenient 24/7 availability regardless of signal strength or internet connection.§ About the offer Zendy professional and student members in select countries can enjoy up to 35% off an annual or longer personal subscription to UpToDate. The exact discount will be shown during checkout. Log in with your member credentials to access discounted rates and elevate your clinical knowledge today. If you’re in a participating country, a promo code will be provided during checkout, be sure to enter it when purchasing to receive your savings. Grab the offer now How to avail of the offer? To subscribe and save, simply log in with your member credentials. Zendy rates will be reflected in the special store. Please note that the availability of special pricing will expire 30 minutes after you click the link to the UpToDate login store. If you begin the order process and do not complete it within 30 minutes, prices will default back to regular rates. You will need to click the link again to initiate a new order session. Proof of status is required for all student orders. Subscribe UpToDate content is protected by copyright and owned and/or licensed by UpToDate, Inc. By accessing or using UpToDate content, you accept the terms and conditions of the CE Terms of Use, which prohibit the use, training, inputting or processing of UpToDate content by or into automated software or tools, including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence solutions, algorithms, machine learning, and/or large language models. *Quoted savings rates are applicable to annual and longer subscriptions only, are based on the specified subscription type, and are reflected in the UpToDate store when you are signed into the Zendy website with your membership login. Applicable taxes may apply. Proof of status is required for all student orders. †Access to UpToDate mobile app or UpToDate MobileComplete™ requires a personal subscription. Wi-Fi access is required for initial MobileComplete download as well as content updates. Find current information on supported devices at http://www.uptodate.com/mobile. ‡UpToDate Pathways and UpToDate Lab Interpretation are included in all newly purchased individual UpToDate Online subscriptions. §Access to UpToDate mobile app or UpToDate MobileComplete™, our native mobile app, requires an individual subscription. Wi-Fi access is required for initial MobileComplete download as well as content updates. Find current information on supported devices. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
Top 46 AI Tools for Research in 2025 (Writing, Citations, Literature Review & More)
Five years ago, many believed Web 3.0 and a decentralised internet would reshape how we interact online. Instead, the real change came from artificial intelligence (AI). Quietly, it started showing up everywhere, from how we search to how we write and learn. In research, the impact of change is particularly evident. AI research tools have evolved beyond simple assistance. It's now critical to how we study, gather information, and break down complex ideas. In our recent 2025 AI survey by Zendy shows just how common AI tools for research have become: 73.6% of students and researchers say they use AI tools, with over half of them using AI tools for literature reviews and nearly as many using them for writing and editing. Table of contents: AI Research Assistants for Students: ZAIA, Elicit, Perplexity AI, Research Rabbit, Scite, ChatGPT, Connected Papers AI-driven Literature Review Tools:Zendy, Litmaps, ResearchPal, Sourcely, Consensus, R Discovery, Scinapse.io AI-powered Writing Assistants:PaperPal, Jenny.AI, Aithor, Wisio.app, Trinka AI, Grammarly AI Tools for Data Analysis in Research:Julius AI, Vizly, ChatGPT-4o, Polymer, Qlik AI Paraphrasing Tools for Students:Ref-n-write, SciSpace, MyEssayWriter.ai, Scribbr, Rewrite Guru AI Productivity Tools for ResearchersOtter AI, Bit.ai, Todoist, Notion AI Tools for Thesis Writing:TheseAI, Gatsbi, Writefull, Thesify AI Citation Management Tools:Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, RefWorks AI Tools for Creating Research PresentationsGamma, Presentations.AI, PopAI, AiPPT AI Research Assistants for Students Here are some of the favourite AI research assistants for students ZAIA: Zendy's AI-powered research assistant, delivering precise, reference-backed academic insights and PDF analysis, saving time and enhancing focus Elicit: An AI research assistant that helps with literature reviews by summarising academic papers and refining research questions, but it's limited to open-access sources and lacks full PDF upload support Perplexity AI: Search-based chatbot offering sourced answers from web and academic content, however, it's good to keep in mind that perplexity was not designed for research support. Research Rabbit: Visual literature mapping tool for exploring academic papers and citation networks (limited by outdated MAG database). Scite: Citation analysis tool showing how papers reference each other, useful for evaluating credibility (paid, no full-paper summaries). ChatGPT (with research plugins): Versatile AI assistant for summarising, brainstorming, and drafting academic content (requires fact-checking). Connected Papers: Visual graph tool for discovering related research papers (limited journal coverage, no deep analysis).. AI-driven Literature Review Tools Now you can save weeks, if not months, just by using one of these AI-driven literature review tools below: Zendy: AI-powered research platform offering access to millions of peer-reviewed papers with summarisation and citation tools (some features require payment). Litmaps: Visual citation mapping tool for tracing research connections and trends (no content analysis). ResearchPal: AI assistant for literature reviews and reference management, integrates with Zotero/Mendeley (paid plans for full features). Sourcely: Source-finding tool that suggests and cites relevant papers from 200M+ database (limited paywall access). Consensus: Search engine highlighting scientific consensus on topics using peer-reviewed sources (limited free version). R Discovery: Mobile app for personalised research paper discovery with audio/translation features (no deep analysis). Scinapse.io: Free citation-based academic search tool with AI-generated mini-reviews (limited full-text access). AI-powered Writing Assistants A good research article or study is recognised by how it’s written. Below, you’ll find top AI tools for research to improve your academic writing skills. PaperPal: AI writing assistant for academic papers with grammar/clarity checks and citation help (limited to formal writing). Jenny.AI: Fast draft generator for academic content (requires heavy editing, better for writing than research). Aithor: AI-assisted academic writing tool with multilingual support (mixed reviews on output quality). Wisio.app: Writing coach for academic drafts with AI/human feedback (focused on refinement, not speed). Trinka AI: Specialised grammar/citation checker for technical writing (English-focused). Grammarly: Real-time grammar/spelling checker for academic writing (lacks research-specific features). AI Tools for Data Analysis in Research Some tools focus on cleaning and organising your data, while others assist with analysis or even visualising results. Julius AI: Conversational data analysis tool for quick stats and forecasting (free tier has dataset limits). Vizly: AI-powered spreadsheet visualiser for charts and trends (10 free AI interactions/month). ChatGPT-4o: Flexible AI for dataset Q&A and brainstorming (can’t process raw files directly). Polymer: No-code dashboard generator for interactive data visuals (limited customisation options). Qlik: Advanced data integration and visualisation platform (steeper learning curve). AI Paraphrasing Tools for Students But keep in mind that paraphrasing doesn't avoid plagiarism, and you still need to cite sources. Here are some of the best AI tools for research that focus on paraphrasing: Ref-n-write: Academic writing assistant with paraphrasing tools and phrasebank (Word/Google Docs plugin). SciSpace: PDF-based AI tool for simplifying and rewriting academic texts (no full-document processing). MyEssayWriter.ai: Quick essay generator/paraphraser for early drafts (multilingual but generic output). Scribbr: Plagiarism checker and proofreading tool with synonym suggestions (125-word input limit). Rewrite Guru: Customisable rephrasing tool with grammar/plagiarism checks (less academic-focused). AI Productivity Tools for Researchers True accessibility means being able to access, use, and benefit from a tool with ease. In research, that also means saving time. Otter AI: Lecture transcription tool for real-time note-taking (accuracy depends on audio quality). Bit.ai: Collaborative workspace for organising research with academic templates (AI features require payment). Todoist: Task manager for breaking down academic projects (may be excessive for simple needs). Notion: All-in-one workspace for notes, databases, and research organising (limited offline use). AI Tools for Thesis Writing These tools won’t write your thesis for you, but they can help you stay organised, improve your writing, and work more efficiently. ThesisAI: AI thesis generator with citations and multi-format export (pay-per-document model). Gatsby: AI co-scientist for technical documents with equations/citations (paid subscription required). Writefull: Academic writing assistant for grammar, abstracts, and LaTeX (may struggle with technical terms). Thesify: Critical thinking partner for thesis feedback (no grammar checks, focuses on structure/flow). AI Citation Management Tools Here are the top citation management and referencing tools in 2025 for researchers and students. Zotero: Free, open-source reference manager with citation tools and PDF annotation (limited free storage). EndNote: Premium reference manager for large projects with Word integration (steep learning curve). Mendeley: Free reference manager with academic social network (occasionally clunky interface). RefWorks: Institution-focused cloud reference manager (requires university subscription). AI Tools for Creating Research Presentations Presenting your research effectively is just as important as conducting it. Here are top AI tools for research presentations that can save you time while helping deliver your findings in a polished, professional format. Gamma: AI-powered tool for fast academic slide creation from text (may need manual tweaks). Presentations.AI: Simple research-to-slides converter with real-time collaboration (limited design flexibility). PopAI: Interactive presentation maker with quizzes/media (steep learning curve for full feature use). AiPPT: One-click document-to-slide converter with smart formatting (advanced customisation requires effort). Conclusion AI is no longer just a tool in the research process, it’s a collaborator. However, these tools aren’t perfect; they often vary in accuracy, depth, and usability. For this reason, not every tool will be a good fit for every stage of research. As a result, it’s important to explore, test, and use a multitude of tools that fit your needs. As these technologies continue to evolve, staying curious and adaptable is the best way to keep your research sharp, stay competitive, and be ready for the future. Most importantly, always fact-check your sources, verify references, and critically review AI-generated content for clarity, accuracy, and originality. When using AI for writing or paraphrasing, ensure the final output reflects your own understanding, voice, and academic intent.Don’t forget that ethical publication practices should always come first. Follow your institution’s policies on AI use, cite AI-generated assistance where necessary, and avoid relying on tools in ways that could be considered plagiarism or lead to misrepresentation. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
Zendy Integrates OECD Open Data to Enhance Research Insights and Global Knowledge Access
Dubai, UAE – June 2025 – Zendy, the AI-powered research library, has integrated open-access data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) into its platform and AI research assistant, ZAIA. This strategic addition allows users to explore and interact with one of the world’s most trusted sources of economic, social, and policy data directly through Zendy’s intuitive search experience. Founded in 1961, the OECD—known for its comprehensive and rigorously curated datasets across sectors such as education, environment, health, and development—has recently made its data openly accessible. Making this data available on Zendy enables researchers and students around the world to access critical statistics and indicators, empowering evidence-based decision-making and academic exploration. With over 770,000 users across 191 countries and territories, Zendy continues to remove barriers to knowledge by equipping its global community with high-quality, relevant content. The integration of OECD data into Zendy’s library and its AI assistant, ZAIA, empowers users to ask complex questions and receive data-enriched answers within seconds. The inclusion of OECD data strengthens Zendy’s mission to promote educational equity and democratise access to the latest research datasets. OECD’s indicators provide essential context and insights for research projects, policy development, and business analysis. These valuable resources are now easily accessible through ZAIA’s AI-powered assistant and Zendy’s search platform. This move builds on Zendy’s commitment to creating an inclusive digital research environment where high-value content and AI-powered tools work hand-in-hand to support learning and discovery. For more information, please contact: Lisette van KesselHead of MarketingEmail: l.vankessel@knowledgee.com About Zendy Zendy is an AI-powered, mission-driven library committed to enhancing the accessibility and discoverability of scholarly literature, particularly in the Global South and underserved regions. Today, the library supports over 770,000 users across 191 countries and territories, offering a comprehensive collection of academic journals, reports, and research tools to empower educators, students, and professionals worldwide. About the OECD The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that promotes better policies for better lives. With 38 member countries, the OECD provides a platform for governments to collaborate, share experiences, and develop solutions to common problems. It collects and publishes data on a wide range of topics, supporting informed policymaking and global development efforts. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
Zendy and e-Marefa Partner to Expand Access to Arabic Academic Content
Dubai, UAE – May, 2025 – Zendy, the AI-powered research library, and e-Marefa, the leading digital Arabic database, have signed a partnership agreement to expand access to high-quality Arabic academic resources for researchers, students, and professionals worldwide. This strategic collaboration will make e-Marefa’s extensive collection of Arabic-language journals, theses, conference proceedings, and statistical reports available on Zendy’s platform, supporting scholars in the Arab world and beyond, to enhance global access to Arabic scholarship. With over 770,000 users in 191 countries and territories, Zendy continues to grow as a trusted platform for discovering academic knowledge. By integrating e-Marefa’s content, Zendy reinforces its mission to ensure that critical regional knowledge is not only preserved but also made accessible and discoverable to a wider audience. e-Marefa’s database spans a diverse range of disciplines including humanities, social sciences, economics, education, and medicine. Through this partnership, these valuable Arabic-language resources will be more discoverable and searchable by a global Arabic academic audience, bridging language and accessibility gaps that have historically limited the visibility of Arab scholarship. The partnership also reflects Zendy’s commitment to linguistic diversity and cultural representation in research. In a global knowledge ecosystem dominated by English-language publications, ensuring the inclusion of Arabic content is key to fostering a more balanced, inclusive academic landscape. Zendy users will now be able to explore and benefit from e-Marefa’s content seamlessly, supporting regional research, curriculum development, and policy work rooted in the local context. Together, Zendy and e-Marefa aim to empower Arabic-speaking researchers and increase the global impact of their work. For more information, please contact:Lisette van KesselHead of MarketingEmail: l.vankessel@knowledgee.com About ZendyZendy is an AI-powered research library dedicated to increasing the accessibility and discoverability of scholarly literature, particularly in the global south and underserved regions. The platform currently serves over 770,000 users across 191 countries and territories, offering a comprehensive collection of academic journals, articles, and reports to empower researchers, educators, and students around the world. About e-Marefae-Marefa is the leading digital Arabic academic database, providing access to thousands of peer-reviewed journals, dissertations, statistical data, and specialised resources across a broad range of disciplines. Serving universities, research institutions, and libraries throughout the Arab world and beyond, e-Marefa is committed to advancing academic research in Arabic and increasing the visibility of Arab scholarship on the global stage. .wp-block-image img { max-width: 85% !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }
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