Derges joins STM as Policy and Research Manager

by Lucy Derges

Lucy Derges tells us why she chose the MA Publishing Studies via distance learning and how it led to her current role as Policy and Research Manager at STM.

I decided to take the plunge and sign up to the MA Publishing Studies via distance learning after a parenting career-break.  My previous career in the Civil Service had provided some great experience but I had long wondered about a career in publishing but wasn’t quite sure how to get there.  After researching my options, Brookes was the stand-out course.  It had the flexibility to accommodate work, parenting and my rural location.  It also has an excellent reputation and resources, including career development sessions which helped me secure my current role. 

In the first year of my MA the global pandemic struck and all of the course meet ups that I had so looked forward to, such as the London Book Fair, slowly but steadily began to disappear.   Our Subject Coordinator, Helena Markou, kept us all up to speed with online events and did a fantastic job in arranging opportunities for us to speak with industry experts.  One of the many such online events I attended was a talk by Eefke Smit, Director of Standards and Technology at STM (The International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers).  It was fascinating and covered, among other things, the role of AI in publishing.  Little did I imagine that in six months’ time, I would be helping prepare an industry-wide survey on the very subject as Policy and Research Manager for STM!

As a trade association for the scholarly publishing industry, STM represents, supports and performs advocacy work for scholarly publishers. Its members are responsible for around two thirds of all published papers from the worlds of science, technology, medicine, social sciences, and humanities.  It has more than 140 members across the globe including all the major commercial publishers, learned societies and university presses.

Since joining STM in December 2020, I have already assisted in the design and scoping of two major surveys and am researching Open Science initiatives in support of maintaining research integrity in the industry.  The skills and knowledge provided by the MA have been essential to every project and I’m certain will continue to be so.    

Edited by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01 Feb 2021 around 8am

Last edited: 02 02 2021