While this is nice in that it sets the example (and provides publicity to bioarxiv) it's not a couple of Nobel laureates that post one out of dozen(s) of papers/year published that will make the real difference.
The system is aged and inefficient (some would even argue it's rotten) and IMO comprehensive changes are needed. Like racial or gender discrimination can't be addressed without changing the social rules people live by, the current academic system that's rather elitist, non-inclusive, discriminatory, often more biased and less fair than many think needs to change substantially.
Such change will be aided by important people setting examples (and often going back to their old ways). However more substantial change is needed on multiple levels, most importantly: academic leaders and funding agencies (run by the former) need to stop looking at who's who and how many Nature/Science/insert-your-fancy-journal papers does the person have. For instance, the culture of applying for grant money with work that's half done to maximize one's chances needs to stop and so should the over-emphasis of impressive and positive results.
Additionally, publishers exploiting everyone need to die out and as long as these researchers "go rogue" with a single paper (rather than for instance committing to publish 100% preprints and >75% open access), not much will change.
The system is aged and inefficient (some would even argue it's rotten) and IMO comprehensive changes are needed. Like racial or gender discrimination can't be addressed without changing the social rules people live by, the current academic system that's rather elitist, non-inclusive, discriminatory, often more biased and less fair than many think needs to change substantially.
Such change will be aided by important people setting examples (and often going back to their old ways). However more substantial change is needed on multiple levels, most importantly: academic leaders and funding agencies (run by the former) need to stop looking at who's who and how many Nature/Science/insert-your-fancy-journal papers does the person have. For instance, the culture of applying for grant money with work that's half done to maximize one's chances needs to stop and so should the over-emphasis of impressive and positive results.
Additionally, publishers exploiting everyone need to die out and as long as these researchers "go rogue" with a single paper (rather than for instance committing to publish 100% preprints and >75% open access), not much will change.