Future diabetes and endocrine research leaders decide: Is the scientific publication, as we know it, dead?!

Over the past 400 years, scientific publishing has evolved minimally despite significant advancements in technology and the volume of research outputs. At the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (DDEA) Postdoc Summit in 2023, five key themes related to scientific publishing were identified and early career researchers were challenged to address these issues: artificial intelligence (AI) in scientific writing, accessibility in publishing, reproducibility, peer review, and metrics. Here we present some solutions to improve scientific publishing: The responsible use of AI can enhance productivity but requires guidelines and training to maintain scientific integrity. Accessibility issues, such as complex jargon and high publication fees, limit the dissemination of research; proposed solutions include more graphical abstracts and interactive digital content. To improve reproducibility, a framework that includes external validation of key experiments by other researchers could be implemented. Peer review faces challenges due to the increasing complexity of manuscripts and the limited time of reviewers; a central database of peer reviewers was proposed to match expertise with manuscripts and provide more recognition of reviewing efforts. Current metrics to assess researchers focus mostly on publication-centric achievements, a more holistic evaluation system would acknowledge the wide range of scientific contributions. The scientific publication is not going to die, but together with the surrounding publication system, it could be improved to ensure that the evolution of scientific publishing aligns with contemporary research practices and needs, particularly for early career researchers.