Unlock Research: Simple Fix Frees Thousands of Paywalled Papers

• Thousands of publicly funded Australian research papers remain paywalled despite legal sharing potential.
• Green open access (self-archiving) allows authors to share peer-reviewed manuscripts via university repositories, a largely underused method.
• James Cook University's "Bring Out Your Dead!" campaign prompted researchers to submit older manuscripts, doubling annual deposits without new funding.
• Librarians provided hands-on support, simplifying copyright checks and processing for researchers.
• This low-cost intervention can unlock decades of research, making it accessible for public benefit and informing policy, education, and public debate.