In 1996, after more than two decades in medical cell biology research and scholarly publishing, Alma Swan cofounded Key Perspectives Ltd., a consultancy in the area of scholarly communication. She holds graduate degrees in cell biology (Ph.D., Southampton University) and business administration (MBA, Warwick University). She has served on the faculty of Leicester University and on the staff of Pergamon Press/Elsevier Science, where she was senior managing editor. Address: Key Perspectives Ltd., 48 Old Coach Road, Playing Place, Truro, TR3 6ET, UK. Internet: www.keyperspectives.co.uk