ABSTRACT
This chapter overviews open access (OA) publishing in the sciences, which has been an evolving, contentious issue for almost two decades. Publishing options for scientific researchers vary, and the politics and rhetoric behind those options are even more complex. This chapter will provide a brief overview of OA as a way to navigate current trends, drawing a broad picture of its impact on scientific publishing, including a look at its history, rationale, evolution, and current international landscape.
