---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science should belong to scientists and…"
description: "\"Science should belong to scientists and not the publishers.\" — Alexandra Elbakyan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/alexandra-elbakyan-21024_belong_science-should-belong-to-scientists-and_773248.jpg"
---

#  Science should belong to scientists and not the publishers.

![“Science should belong to scientists and not the publishers.” quote by Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/alexandra-elbakyan-21024_belong_science-should-belong-to-scientists-and_773248.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/alexandra-elbakyan-21024_belong_science-should-belong-to-scientists-and_773248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/alexandra-elbakyan-21024_belong_science-should-belong-to-scientists-and_773248.jpg)

> “Science should belong to scientists and not the publishers.”

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Science should be freely accessible to researchers, not locked behind paywalls.

**In simple terms:** Science should be open.

Key Takeaway

Advocate open access.

Themes

access equity research publishing

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

advocacy informational

When to use this quote

- academic research
- policy making
- education
- public health

Key Concepts

intellectual property open science

Questions to Reflect On

- How can institutions fund open access?
- What incentives drive publishers to restrict?

A Different Perspective

Publishers claim costs, but open models exist.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Publishers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishers/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists/)

## Related quotes

> [A lot of times, when people send me books to read - new writers mostly - I find that the book is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/a-lot-of-times-when-people-send-me-books-to-read-new-writers-mostly-i/)

[Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/)

> [Publishers of course have you altogether in their grip; if they say you must do a thing you have jolly well got to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/publishers-of-course-have-you-altogether-in-their-grip-if-they-say/)

[Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/)

> [The proverb says, "Born lucky, always lucky," and I am very superstitious. As a small boy I was notoriously lucky. It was usual for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-proverb-says-born-lucky-always-lucky-and-i-am-very-superstitious/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [But if I worried too much about publishers' expectations, I'd probably paralyze myself and not be able to write anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/but-if-i-worried-too-much-about-publishers-expectations-i-d-probably/)

[David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/)

> [I was talking to my publisher in Britain and was told here we are - we are sixty million people and we reckon only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-was-talking-to-my-publisher-in-britain-and-was-told-here-we-are-we/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [The effect of prizes on one's career - if that is what to call it - is considerable, since they give one more clout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-banville/the-effect-of-prizes-on-one-s-career-if-that-is-what-to-call-it-is/)

[John Banville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-banville/)

> [This sort of encouragement is vital for any writer. And lastly the publication of Touching the Flame, which was on hold for two years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kane/this-sort-of-encouragement-is-vital-for-any-writer-and-lastly-the/)

[Paul Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kane/)

> [Coming into the business, you'd pass through these little agencies until you got to understand what was happening in the business, unless you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-kane/coming-into-the-business-you-d-pass-through-these-little-agencies/)

[Gil Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-kane/)

> [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [My books have been translated into various languages and sold in other countries, but I never have any contact with the foreign publishers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/my-books-have-been-translated-into-various-languages-and-sold-in/)

[Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/)

> [Agents and publishers only want one thing - good writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/agents-and-publishers-only-want-one-thing-good-writing/)

[Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/)

> [I have to declare in all candor that no one interested in being published in our time can afford to be so naive as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-curtis/i-have-to-declare-in-all-candor-that-no-one-interested-in-being/)

[Richard Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-curtis/)

> [I have finally become my own genre, and now that's what publishers want. I have a wonderful publisher now, Mulholland, very innovated, very fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-have-finally-become-my-own-genre-and-now-that-s-what-publishers/)

[Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/)

> [I got signed with the songwriting deal when I was sixteen and they were really great - my publishers, who to this day are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-got-signed-with-the-songwriting-deal-when-i-was-sixteen-and-they/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [Kindle Singles is publishing on skates. It prints like lightning; our book meets readers in hours. I've spent so many years waiting for publishers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/kindle-singles-is-publishing-on-skates-it-prints-like-lightning-our/)

[Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/)

## More by Alexandra Elbakyan

> [There is the possibility to be suddenly arrested for hacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/there-is-the-possibility-to-be-suddenly-arrested-for-hacking/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [I want to collect the entire range of scientific and educational literature and make it accessible to the whole world. Just like Google Books,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-want-to-collect-the-entire-range-of-scientific-and-educational/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [I like their slogan 'making uncommon knowledge common' very much, but as far as I can tell Elsevier has not mastered this job well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-like-their-slogan-making-uncommon-knowledge-common-very-much-but-as/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [Journal paywalls are an example of something that works in the reverse direction, making communication less open and efficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/journal-paywalls-are-an-example-of-something-that-works-in-the/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [I know there are some reasons to suspect me: after all, I have education in computer security and was a hobby hacker in teenage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-know-there-are-some-reasons-to-suspect-me-after-all-i-have/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [I could obtain any paper by pirating it, so I solved many requests and people always were very grateful for my help. After that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-could-obtain-any-paper-by-pirating-it-so-i-solved-many-requests-and/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [Providing free access to research papers on websites like Sci-Hub breaks so-called copyright law that was made to taboo free distribution of information on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/providing-free-access-to-research-papers-on-websites-like-sci-hub/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [I have a lot of supporters but they are not well organized. They send me donations but for the most part, their commitment is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-have-a-lot-of-supporters-but-they-are-not-well-organized-they-send/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [All content should be copied without restriction. But for education and research, copyright laws are especially damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/all-content-should-be-copied-without-restriction-but-for-education/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [I started a crowdfunding campaign on Sci-Hub to buy additional drives, and soon had my own copy of the database collected by LibGen, around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-started-a-crowdfunding-campaign-on-sci-hub-to-buy-additional-drives/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [There should be no obstacles to accessing knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/there-should-be-no-obstacles-to-accessing-knowledge/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [When I was a student in Kazakhstan University, I did not have access to any research papers. These papers I needed for my research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/when-i-was-a-student-in-kazakhstan-university-i-did-not-have-access/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [Scientific knowledge belongs to humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/scientific-knowledge-belongs-to-humanity/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [I perceive Sci-Hub as a practical side of my research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-perceive-sci-hub-as-a-practical-side-of-my-research/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

> [It's useful to know how to go around domain blocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/it-s-useful-to-know-how-to-go-around-domain-blocking/)

[Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

[Explore all 30 Alexandra Elbakyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/)

## More Belong quotes

> [How come I end up where I started How come I end up where I belong... You used to be alright What happened?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/how-come-i-end-up-where-i-started-how-come-i-end-up-where-i-belong/)

[Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/)

> [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [I hate this feeling. Like Im here. But, Im not. Like someone cares. But, they dont. Like I belong somewhere else, anywhere but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-this-feeling-like-im-here-but-im-not-like-someone-cares-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [As you know, in America there's no rights for the artist, so whatever films I've made kind of belong to the studio, so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/as-you-know-in-america-there-s-no-rights-for-the-artist-so-whatever/)

[Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/)

> [“When the time comes, everybody’s got to end up where they belong. Only me, I didn’t have a place to call my own. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-the-time-comes-everybody-s-got-to-end-up-where-they-belong-only/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [God has a purpose for us. If he didn't we wouldn't be alive in the first place. We have a calling. We are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-janssen/god-has-a-purpose-for-us-if-he-didn-t-we-wouldn-t-be-alive-in-the/)

[Kenny Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-janssen/)

> [I thought of how many places there are in the world that belong in this way to someone, who has it in his blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/i-thought-of-how-many-places-there-are-in-the-world-that-belong-in/)

[Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/)

> [I belong to a Bohri Muslim family, and for us, food is our biggest celebration. We are used to elaborate five- to six-course meals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushrat-bharucha/i-belong-to-a-bohri-muslim-family-and-for-us-food-is-our-biggest/)

[Nushrat Bharucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushrat-bharucha/)

> [“You need to belong to yourself, and let others belong to themselves too. You need to be free and detached from things and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/you-need-to-belong-to-yourself-and-let-others-belong-to-themselves/)

[Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/)

> [I want all of my films to belong to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-want-all-of-my-films-to-belong-to-me/)

[Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/)

> [“Your beliefs, and your beliefs alone, belong to you. You are the only one who is with you for your entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/your-beliefs-and-your-beliefs-alone-belong-to-you-you-are-the-only/)

[Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/)

> [Earth does not belong to us; we belong to earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/earth-does-not-belong-to-us-we-belong-to-earth/)

[Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/)

> [I think I know where you belong. I think I know its not with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-i-know-where-you-belong-i-think-i-know-its-not-with-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There's a compelling reason why I belong in the Hall of Fame, but I understand the argument against me. My career didn't go like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/there-s-a-compelling-reason-why-i-belong-in-the-hall-of-fame-but-i/)

[Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/)

Browse all 1,571 Belong quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Science should belong to scientists and not the publishers.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alexandra Elbakyan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/science-should-belong-to-scientists-and-not-the-publishers/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Belong"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/science-should-belong-to-scientists-and-not-the-publishers/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/alexandra-elbakyan-21024_belong_science-should-belong-to-scientists-and_773248.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/alexandra-elbakyan-21024_belong_science-should-belong-to-scientists-and_773248.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/alexandra-elbakyan-21024_belong_science-should-belong-to-scientists-and_773248.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Science should belong to scientists and not the publishers.” — Alexandra Elbakyan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alexandra Elbakyan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Science should belong to scientists and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/science-should-belong-to-scientists-and-not-the-publishers/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/science-should-belong-to-scientists-and-not-the-publishers/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
