Part 3/10:
In the scientific community, publishers play a crucial role in validating and distributing research. Historically, they’ve relied on paywalls to sustain their operations. Yet, these paywalls often come at steep prices—sometimes up to $50 per article for individual readers—and require institutions to spend millions annually on subscriptions.
This system becomes especially problematic during health emergencies. As one individual, known online as Shrine on Reddit, recounts, the situation became urgent when he recognized that many critical papers on coronaviruses, dating back decades, were inaccessible due to paywalls. This lack of access potentially delayed the dissemination of crucial knowledge that could save lives.