Editor’s note: This year’s installment of Ask the Community is brought to you by John Long, co-chair of SSP’s Marketing and Communications Committee, and Director of Publications for the Biophysical Society. John thanks co-chairs Aileen McHugh from the American College of Physicians and Laura Foster from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for their assistance with this post.
We asked some of the attendees of the recent SSP Annual Meeting in Chula Vista, CA, to answer the question: “What are some takeaways from your experience at SSP 2026?”
The responses reinforced the conviction that there is a true community around scholarly publishing. There are colleagues we’ve seen many times over the years, but we also welcome first-time attendees. We have serious discussions, easy conversations, and fun nights out with our fellow members, vendors, potential collaborators, mentors, mentees, and true friends.
Within this community, we have the opportunity to learn from one another during insightful sessions, roundtables, and Q&A periods. We keep abreast of the latest products coming to our industry and share how we’re addressing challenges. We discuss the perils and promise of AI and how to handle uncertain and changing government policies. We celebrate one another’s milestones and achievements, including at the EPIC Awards Dinner!
The SSP Annual Meeting is a chance for us to be reminded of the unique connection we have with those who circulate in this world of scholarly publishing, to be reinvigorated for the future, and to keep coming back every year!
Whether you attended the Annual Meeting in person in Chula Vista or could not travel, you can still sign up for the SSP Highlights webinar on Wednesday, June 17th.
Marianne Calilhanna, Data Conversion Laboratory
The SSP 48th Annual Meeting was my first year attending as a co-chair of the event. The term is a 3-year commitment, and my fellow co-chairs, Jessie Slater, AAAS, and Greg Fagan, Aptara, prepared me to be ready for anything. When helping to produce events, the practice I follow is to keep my eyes open and anticipate. A lot can happen with direct eye contact and knowing the people with whom you are working. Indeed, there were moments when the three of us “communicated” across the expansive ballroom or in the hallways, and the effectiveness of those looks really came down to the fact that people come to SSP prepared.
It wasn’t until this meeting in Chula Vista, my 15th Annual Meeting, that I deeply understood the preparations that go into this event. Sure, I know that speaking submissions open about 8 months prior to the event and the location of the conference is planned approximately 3 to 5 years out. I’ve exhibited at SSP with different organizations, and I know what’s involved to have a successful experience in the exhibitors’ marketplace. However, working on educational programming, a process requiring many stakeholders, demands another level of communication, preparedness, and trust.
When asked to share my “takeaways” from SSP this year, I initially wanted to say something remarkable about the many sessions I attended and new insight gained. However, I was only able to attend the plenaries, two industry breakouts, and one educational session because my role as co-chair required that I remain available and in motion as a steadying presence wherever the event needed me most. Sound checks, breakfast meetings, exhibit hall walkthroughs, and presentation room prep were my sessions this year, and they mattered a great deal.
When reflecting on not only the meeting in Chula Vista, but also the past year leading up to it, my biggest takeaway is what every individual brings to the annual meeting. The panelists and session moderators, the SSP Fellows, poster presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, our beloved SSP staff, and simply everyone in attendance bring a level of expertise, generosity, and passion to this conference, which makes the Annual Meeting something truly special. Watching an event transform from spreadsheets to real human connection mirrors the larger transformation taking place across scholarly communication.
We are all stewards of this industry in which we work, and when I look across the expanse of time and familiar faces, I trust that whatever comes next with AI, business models, or research integrity, this community will find its way through together and with intention.
Erin Foley, Copyright Clearance Center
Coming off the back of the SSP 2026 Annual Meeting reminds me just how valuable these forums are for learning and development, connecting with clients and partners, and networking with our industry colleagues. The conference theme of adaptation and innovation in turbulent times really pulled through from the opening keynote all the way through the end of the show, and it was inspiring to hear the myriad ways that the community is collaborating to stay true to our missions, support trust in research and science, and evolve our businesses in the face of broader societal challenges and pressures.
I greatly enjoyed the three plenaries, as I always do. Dr. Okolo’s case for a Global Knowledge Commons was well considered and thought provoking (although I hope I’m not the only one who was madly searching online for some terminology definitions!); Tim’s panel featuring Jay, Teo, and Rebecca was appropriately wide-ranging and really set the stage for many conversations over the next two days; and the Previews session is always a must-see with developments from all parts of our industry (the tie for winning innovation was especially cool to watch in real time!).
I haven’t yet had a chance to go back to the OnDemand Library to review the many sessions I missed, but the two educational sessions I was able to attend (2A “AI Licensing Maturity: Preparing What’s Next” and 4A “The 5% to 30% Scenario: How China’s Journal Policies Could Reshape Global Publishing”) were a good blend of strategic outlook around AI and Open Access in China and a view into how our community is (or could be!) addressing these trends.
One of my favorite parts of SSP every year is celebrating the amazing achievements of the SSP organization and cheering on some of our individual members being recognized for their contributions throughout the year, so the Annual Business Meeting and Awards Luncheon is always a highlight of my SSP week. This was also my second time attending the EPIC Awards, and it was just as fun as the inaugural event last year! From sunset drinks to Jenny’s pink carpet hostessing to Jude and Kevin’s expert MCing to hearing the nominees and losing our voices cheering for the winners, it was a fantastic event from start to finish, and I look forward to starting planning for next year!
Picking three favorite things out of my favorite week of the year is pretty tough, but I would say the many conversations with colleagues, clients, and partners take the number one spot as always since it kicks off a summer of fantastic developments throughout our business. In second place is the absolute honor of attending my first Board meeting as a member — great conversations and a good group of people that I am thrilled to be working alongside to advance the needs of the Society and our members. Finally, we brought the house down at the SSP/CCC Karaoke night, so I hope we can find a permanent home for that on the schedule!
Kelly Harvey, AIP Publishing
For me, the SSP Annual Meeting is always a heartwarming experience. Working alongside volunteers throughout the year and then finally having the opportunity to connect in person is something I look forward to. SSP 2026 was especially meaningful, as it was my first time speaking on a panel and presenting a poster.
Sitting in a room filled with fellow Early Career Professionals, recognizing people I had previously only known through Zoom calls, and sharing spontaneous conversations with colleagues in the hallways are all memories I will cherish. These moments remind me that our community is built not only through the work we do, but through the relationships we form along the way!
Emma Hennessey, American Chemical Society
What I always come back to when thinking about what I love about this industry is the community. I left SSP energized and motivated after a few days spent chatting and brainstorming with long-time industry friends and new-to-me contacts. I also thought the venue was great!
Jeff Lang, Figure2
From the moment I arrived at the hotel in Chula Vista, I felt the excitement of being back with friends and colleagues who share a common purpose. The folks who attended the travel agents’ conference at the same venue can keep their silly boating hats; I love the mission and passion of SSP attendees.
My conversations kept returning to two themes that were also present in the program: the impact of AI on article submissions and the impact of AI on article consumption. The former is causing stress around growth (how to handle the surge, filter out low-quality content, and find opportunity in the struggle), with the latter causing stress around decline (how to manage expectations, filter out low-quality requests, and find opportunity in the struggle). Despite that, I noticed a shift away from the fear and uncertainty I heard during conferences earlier in the AI era. No one here was trying to understand what AI is or whether people will use it. The comments about being replaced by AI are now more snarky than genuinely afraid. We’ve moved on to the acceptance phase.
Kelley Squazzo, Project MUSE
I’m happy to be part of this resilient, solutions-focused community! Personally, I believe the scholarly publishing industry is exceptionally well positioned to experiment with AI — our work demands critical thinking skills and rigorous attention to detail, both of which are essential for crucial human oversight. This year’s conference sessions made this shift unmistakable: we’ve moved beyond learning AI fundamentals towards bold, strategic thinking. We’re collaborating and partnering to develop new business models that prioritize the value of our trusted content. I’m excited to see what comes out of these new connections and ideas!
