The peer review system is breaking down. Here’s how we can fix it

Significant challenge of finding qualified peer reviewers in Australian academic journals, impacting both long-term viability of journals and research integrity.
More than half of surveyed editors (55%) consider finding reviewers a major hurdle with some sending up to 30 invitations to secure two reviewers.
Consequences of the lack of reviewers include outright rejections of manuscripts and delayed publication timelines, threatening systemic integrity.
Reasons for decline in review participation include voluntary nature of review, pressure to increase research output amidst university discouragement of peer review roles, and post-COVID shifts impacting effort allocation.
Efforts to mitigate the shortage include training workshops, reliance on editorial boards, and rejections at an initial screening stage.
Emerging concern over AI-generated reviews that are deemed ineffective in improving manuscripts.
Proposed long-term solutions include incentives such as payment or mandatory review requirements, though these are difficult to implement due to the integral nature of peer review in scholarly systems.
The crisis threatens the viability of local/independent journals and undermines trust in the scientific record.
Systemic changes requiring recognition and support from universities and research bodies are needed to address the shortage of reviewers and preserve scholarly trust.