RSC approves policy allowing researchers to change names on papers

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has established a new policy to enable researchers to update their name on published journal articles. The aim is to help authors who have changed their names retain credit for their work, and to avoid unnecessarily undermining their identity.

Many people choose to change their name for a wide range of personal reasons such as marriage, divorce, or a change of religion. But while academics’ publications are usually the most important records of their career achievements, updating names on old papers is far from straightforward.