Local Hubs – ASAPbio

ASAPbio Local Hubs

The local hubs program was sunset at the end of 2024. The below information is maintained to recognise the achievements and effort of those involved in the program.

ASAPbio works closely with a global community to drive awareness and adoption of preprints in the life sciences. To support and amplify the work of our community members in advocating preprints in their local groups and to engage with communities in diverse locations, we are piloting ASAPbio Local Hubs in different geographical regions.

In 2024, we are running ASAPbio Local Hubs in Norrköping (Sweden), São Paulo (Brazil), Copenhagen (Denmark), Ibadan (Nigeria) and Pretoria (South Africa). Each hub is led by an ASAPbio Community Lead.

If you a researcher or professional in science communication based in Lisbon, São Paulo, or Pretoria, we invite you to join our ASAPbio Local Hubs! Complete the brief form below and our Community Leads will be in touch with further details and updates on upcoming activities in your area.

Join an ASAPbio Local Hub

Upcoming events at our Local Hubs

A promotional banner for a seminar on preprinting in South Africa, featuring four speakers above their names and titles. Logos of the University of Pretoria, ASAPbio, and FABI are at the bottom. The date 05 June 2023 is shown.

ASAPbio Local Hub, Pretoria

‘Fast-tracking research with preprinting: HIghlighting preprint trends in South Africa’event at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria campus on June 5.

Past events

ASAPbio Local Hub, Lisbon: Preprints event at Instituto Medicina Molecular, Lisbon on April 21 at 4pm.

ASAPbio Local Hub, Lisbon: Preprints seminar at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Democritus room) on 12 April 2023

ASAPbio Local Hub São Paulo: Preprints roundtable ‘Preprints na (r)evolução do sistema de publicação: mitos, fatos e contextos’ [Preprints in the (r)evolution of the publishing system: myths, facts, and contexts] with Dr Alicia Kowaltowski and Dr João Victor Cabral-Costa. Biochemistry Department, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo on 9 March 2023.

A person stands presenting to a seated audience in a room. The audience observes a table with snacks and drinks in the background. A large screen and whiteboard are visible, and natural light filters through tall windows.

A person is giving a presentation in a room with wood-paneled walls. They are standing in front of a projector screen displaying a timeline with various logos and text. A table with a wine glass and a small device is in the foreground.

A person stands in front of a projected presentation in a conference room, speaking to an audience sitting in a semi-circle. The room has wooden walls and a large television. Tables with refreshments are at the center.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair is smiling and looking to the side. She is wearing a dark gray t-shirt with the text Lets talk preprints printed in white letters. The background is blurred greenery.

ASAPbio Community Leads

Each of the Local Hubs is driven by an ASAPbio Community Lead, a community member who will coordinate local events, gatherings or other activities about preprints in their area. We are pleased to introduce our Community Leads:

A person with long brown hair tied back, wearing a denim shirt, smiles softly against a background of glowing abstract lines and dots in red and teal.

Mafalda Pimentel

Community Lead for Lisbon

Mafalda is a postdoctoral researcher at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência. She is passionate about science and publishing, is involved with preLights, and as part of her tenure as 2020 Fellow, was one of the community members that spearheaded the creation of our preprint infographics.

A person with short dark hair and glasses is speaking into a microphone. They are wearing a light gray hoodie and standing in front of a blue and purple striped background.

João Victor Cabral Costa

Community Lead for São Paulo

João Victor recently completed his PhD and joined JoVE as a Research & Education Specialist. He is a 2022 Fellow and as a community member, he has participated in an ASAPbio webinar about preprints and early-career researchers, and contributed to the ASAPbio events toolkit.

A black and white close-up photo of a person wearing glasses, resting their chin on their hand. The background is softly blurred with a hint of foliage, conveying a contemplative mood.

Thabiso Motaung

Community Lead for Pretoria

Thabiso is a Lecturer at the University of Pretoria. He has been involved with preprints for several years, Thabiso is a 2020 ASAPbio Fellow and currently serves on the ASAPbio Board of Directors.