Join us for a fun learning session playing The Publishing Trap. The Library has been test-driving this game and invites you to play it online with us and learn about publishing, open access, copyright and research impact.

Zoom link: https://vuw.zoom.us/j/94261373012 

The Publishing Trap is a board game from the UK Copyright Literacy team that allows participants to explore the impact of scholarly communications choices and discuss the role of open access in research by following the lives of four researchers – from doctoral research to their academic legacies.

The Publishing Trap characters

There are four characters in the Publishing Trap game. Players, working in teams, must decide what their character would do in each situation. The characters are:

Mary Mercurial

Mary is an astrophysicist studying dark matter and deep space. She spends her spare time tinkering with her motorbike and making her own wine.

Simon Selleck

Simon is an English Literature researcher, specialising in the work of Jane Austen. He likes theatre and paintballing in his spare time.

Brian Bellamy

Brian is a microbiologist researching environmental factors affecting cell mutations. He’s studious and hardworking. He has an allotment.

Carly Clementine

Carly is a criminologist studying gangs in south east London. She is highly social, playing football and helping at her son’s school.