In this discussion, Paul Ayris, a pioneer in open access at UCL Press, and Philipp Koellinger, a social science genetics expert and CEO of DeSci Labs, tackle the pressing issues in academic publishing. They explore new models aimed at enhancing research visibility and dismantling paywalls. Ayris shares insights about UCL’s groundbreaking open access initiatives, while Koellinger introduces DeSci Publish, a pre-print network revolutionizing research dissemination. Together, they highlight the critical need for transparency, equity, and innovation in scholarly communication.