A paywall prevents access to online content without either a one-off payment or a paid subscription. Many scientific articles and journals are hidden from public view behind a paywall, with only short previews accessible without payment.

Many high-impact papers and important journals are published by companies like Elsevier and Wiley that charge for online access, undermining the fact that scientists would likely want their papers to be read and discussed by as many people as possible. For anyone fortunate enough to belong to an institution that subscribes to these companies, papers can be accessed for research and learning purposes. However, for those with a general interest in science who want to find out more, accessing a single PDF file can cost £25.

Despite a recent increase in number of open access publications and databases of scientific manuscripts, which are free and open to anyone, most major publishers still hide scientific papers behind a paywall. Not only are online journals not freely available, but institutional libraries which contain high-cost textbooks and printed journals are not publicly accessible either.

Science seeks to find new knowledge to understand and improve the world we live in — knowledge that should be accessible to everyone.

This year marks the 30 year fall of the Berlin Wall. When the world is becoming increasingly obsessed with building them, let’s break down the walls in science!