alphaXiv: Open research discussion on top of arXiv (alphaxiv.org)

Article summary

AlphaXiv is a platform for open research discussion on top of arXiv, aiming to facilitate conversations among researchers. The platform faces challenges in verifying author identities, as researchers' email addresses may change over time. Some researchers have proposed using alternative methods, such as ORCID or decentralized identifiers, to claim ownership of their preprints. The discussion highlights the need for a reliable and persistent identification system for researchers.

Main themes

• Research discussion platforms
• Author identity verification
• Email address impermanence
• Decentralized identifiers
• ORCID
• Researcher authentication

What commenters say

• Email addresses are not a reliable means of identifying researchers due to their impermanence and potential for change over time.
• Using a generic email address format in papers can lead to difficulties in claiming ownership of preprints on platforms like AlphaXiv.
• Alternative methods, such as ORCID or decentralized identifiers, could provide a more persistent and reliable means of identifying researchers.
• Requiring researchers to update their recovery addresses and other contact information regularly could help mitigate issues with email address impermanence.
• Institutions should consider providing permanent email forwarding or alternative contact methods for alumni and former employees to facilitate ongoing research discussions.
• The use of fake or misleading email addresses in papers is not a viable solution and can lead to confusion and mistrust.
• A decentralized identifier system could provide a more secure and reliable means of authentication for researchers, but its implementation and adoption may be challenging.