Sunny Vagnozzi, University of Trento, Italy

Sunny Vagnozzi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Toronto. His article, “Horizon-scale tests of gravity theories and fundamental physics from the Event Horizon Telescope image of Sagittarius A*”, was published under the transformative agreement with the CRUI consortium in Italy. 

What inspired you to choose open access (OA) for your latest research?
The fact that OA would allow my article to be disseminated more rapidly and efficiently. The transformative agreement (TA) was essential, as without it I wouldn’t have been able to cover the OA funds, since at the time I did not have a grant to cover for this. 

Can you describe any noticeable impact your OA publication has had such as increased visibility, citations, or engagement with your work? 
I would have said that the huge number of citations received by my work is certainly at least in part a result of OA. 

How did the process of publishing through the TA compare to your previous publishing experiences? 
I wouldn’t say the publication process in itself was different. It was very streamlined, at some point I received an email saying that the TA covering had been approved, and that the organization covering the OA fees through the TA would receive the invoice directly. I didn’t have to do anything else, so it was all rather simple for me. 

Can you share a moment when you realised the value of making your research freely available to access around the world? 
I realize it every day, when I see the huge impact my paper has, and the diversity of researchers around the world who are citing it. 

What would you say to other researchers considering publishing OA through a TA?
Definitely go for it!