Berlin/Oxford, March 2^nd, 2022: Knowledge Unlatched (KU) and the Laudato Si' Research Institute at Campion Hall, Oxford (LSRI) have joined forces to make 11 titles from the field of Integral Ecology Open Access (OA). This collection of e-books, the Laudato Si’ Integral Ecology Collection, is made possible thanks to the "KU Reverse" model from Knowledge Unlatched and to the generous co-funding from the University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University (Environmental Justice Program), with support from the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology.

In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of a united, global response to the current ecological crisis. Dialogue and learning on integral ecology, however, is often hindered by limited access to the academic publications on the subject, which are not affordable for many individuals and institutions in lower-income countries. The Laudato Si’ Integral Ecology Collection was developed to address this problem by making OA a selection of key texts on integral ecology. The collection will provide a valuable resource for lay readers, students, and those undertaking more advanced academic study. Publications in the collection could also be read as part of a reading group or an online course.

The titles will be made available OA to users all over the world after the official launch of the Collection on March 3, 2022 and hosted in a special module on the Open Research Library.

“I am thrilled to be launching this pioneering OA library of books on integral ecology, which will reach people globally, whether one is a university student in the Philippines, a layperson engaged in environmental action in the UK, or a college teacher in Kenya,” said Séverine Deneulin, Director of International Development at LSRI, adding: “We hope that the Laudato Si’ Integral Ecology Collection will not only contribute to narrowing the knowledge gap between different regions of the world but also equip people globally to better respond to the cries of the earth and of the poor.”

“We are delighted to work with the LSRI team on making this collection of important content freely available thanks to the KU Reverse model,” said Philipp Hess, KU’s Manager of Publisher Relations. “We are also very grateful to the co-funding institutions that have helped to make this possible.”

About Knowledge Unlatched

Knowledge Unlatched (www.knowledgeunlatched.org), a Wiley brand, offers free access to scholarly content for readers and researchers around the world. Its crowdfunding Open Access models and initiatives provide libraries worldwide with a central place to support the publishing of Open Access content from leading publish-ers in a wide range of HSS and STEM disciplines.

Contact

Philipp Hess, philipp@knowledgeunlatched.org

About the Laudato Si’ Research Institute

Based at Campion Hall, University of Oxford, the Laudato Si’ Research Institute (https://lsri.campion.ox.ac.uk/) is engaged in research for socio-ecological change. The insti-tute seeks to address the complex socio-ecological issues facing our world today through a transdisciplinary approach that incorporates a wide range of academic disciplinary perspectives, including the wisdom of religious traditions and marginalized voices. It aims to model a new approach to higher education that overcomes the siloing of knowledge, connects research to the world's needs, and privileges collaboration over competition. In doing so, the LSRI hopes to inspire dialog between academics and those invested in socio-ecological change for the flourishing of our common home.

Contact

Yingying Jiang, Communications Officer, communications@campion.ox.ac.uk