The carbon footprint of scientific visibility

Abstract In the face of global warming, academics have started to consider and analyze environmental carbon footprint associated with their professional activity. Among several sources greenhouse gas emissions from research activities, air travel—one most visible unequal fractions this footprint—has received much attention. Of particular interest is question how travel may be related scientific success or visibility as defined by current academic evaluation norms, notably bibliometric indicators. Existing studies, conducted over a small sample individuals within specific disciplines, demonstrated that number citations air-travel frequency, but failed identify link between publication rate h -index. Here, using comprehensive dataset aggregating answers 6000 respondents survey sent randomly selected scientists staff across all disciplines in France, we show higher individual stronger This relationship robust inclusion effects gender, career stage, disciplines. Our analysis suggests flying means for early-career obtain visibility, senior maintain visibility.