pubscope-mcp

# PubScope MCP Server

Connect your AI assistant to **[PubScope](https://pubscope.org)** — free journal intelligence for researchers. This remote [MCP (Model Context Protocol)](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) server gives Claude, Cursor, VS Code and any MCP-compatible client live access to **46,000+ verified academic journals**: trust scores, SJR quartiles, indexing status (Scopus / Web of Science / DOAJ), APCs, and reference verification — instead of guessing from training data.

```
Endpoint:  https://pubscope.org/api/mcp
Transport: Streamable HTTP
Auth:      none — no API key required
Cost:      free (fair-use rate limits)
```

Full setup guide: **[pubscope.org/mcp](https://pubscope.org/mcp)**

## Tools

| Tool | Arguments | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| `search_journals` | `query`, `quartile?`, `open_access_only?`, `max_results?` | Search 46,000+ journals by title, ISSN or topic. Returns trust score, SJR quartile, indexing (Scopus / WoS / DOAJ), open-access status and APC. |
| `get_journal` | `issn` | Full profile of one journal — trust score breakdown, indexing credentials, publisher, quartile, APC and integrity flags. |
| `compare_journals` | `issns` (2–4) | Side-by-side comparison of 2–4 journals on trust, quartile, indexing and cost. |
| `check_citations` | `references` | Verify a pasted reference list against Crossref, OpenAlex and the Retraction Watch database — flags fabricated, unresolvable and retracted references. |

## Setup

### Claude (web & desktop)

Settings → **Connectors** → **Add custom connector** → paste the endpoint URL. No authentication — leave the OAuth fields empty.

```
https://pubscope.org/api/mcp
```

### Claude Code (CLI)

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http pubscope https://pubscope.org/api/mcp
```

### Cursor

Settings → **MCP** → **Add new MCP server**, or add to `~/.cursor/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pubscope": {
      "url": "https://pubscope.org/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

```bash
code --add-mcp '{"name":"pubscope","type":"http","url":"https://pubscope.org/api/mcp"}'
```

### Any other MCP client (stdio bridge)

Clients that only speak stdio can bridge to the remote server with [`mcp-remote`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/mcp-remote):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pubscope": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://pubscope.org/api/mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

## Things to try

- *"Find Q1 open-access journals on medical image segmentation and compare the top three."*
- *"Is Medical Image Analysis indexed in Web of Science? What's its trust score?"*
- *"Here's my reference list — check every citation for fabrication and retractions."*
- *"Compare 1361-8415 and 1533-7928 on cost and indexing."*

## Data & integrity

Every fact the server returns comes from verifiable third-party sources — Scimago (SJR), DOAJ, Web of Science membership records, OpenAlex, Crossref and the Retraction Watch database. Nothing is fabricated, and absence from an index is never presented as a risk verdict. Methodology: [pubscope.org/methodology](https://pubscope.org/methodology).

## Fair use

The server is free and unauthenticated, with per-IP rate limits to keep it available for everyone. For higher-volume or commercial access, [get in touch](https://pubscope.org/contact).

## About

PubScope is a free academic journal intelligence platform: journal verification, AI-powered journal finding, manuscript review-readiness scanning and citation checking. [pubscope.org](https://pubscope.org)

## License

This documentation repository is MIT-licensed. The PubScope service itself is subject to its [terms](https://pubscope.org/terms).