UK— Academic publisher Sage has launched an online social network for discussing research methods.

Methodspace, which has been in private beta since last month, is now open to the public. Sage says the aim is to bring together researchers “from across the academic spectrum looking for support and advice on any aspect of methodology”.

Ziyad Marar, Sage’s publishing director said he was “thrilled” by the response to the beta launch. “The site has a growing community of international researchers, university lecturers and postgraduate students from around the world,” he said.

You can visit the site at www.methodspace.com.

• Meanwhile scientific publisher Elsevier has launched an online community of scientists with whom it hopes to interact to help it develop products and services. The site has been developed by social networks specialist Communispace.

Author: Robert Bain