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(ISSN 2643-8410 (online)) is a journal dedicated to publishing student science communication in various forms, including written, visual, and audio. Our mission is to showcase the innovative ways students communicate science to diverse audiences. We aim to reach audiences beyond the scientific community, making science accessible and engaging for all. Submission of primary research results is not appropriate for this journal. The primary focus should be on the outreach as opposed to the research itself. The journal is published by the University of Iowa as a joint effort of the Latham Science Engagement Initiative and the Digital Scholarship and Publishing Studio.
Focus and Scope
For information regarding content that is appropriate for submission to this journal, please see the About page.
Publication Guidelines
- Work must involve science communication with the public. This journal centers on students actively
participating in science communication within their communities.
- This work must be produced by a university or college-enrolled student (recently graduated is acceptable).
- Your submission cannot be published or currently in the review process in other journals.
- The following digital media will be considered: podcasts, videos, digital art, and written works.
- All work must have a title that is no longer than 15 words.
- All submissions should have an abstract of work (~300-word count). Abstracts should:
- ▸ Briefly introduce the topic and its relevance.
- ▸ State the main goal or purpose of
the
work.
- ▸ Describe the methods or creative approaches used in the science communication.
- ▸ Summarize the
key
findings or outcomes.
- ▸ Highlight the significance or impact of the work.
- Your submission must include one image that can be used as a banner for your article's future
Copyright Notice
This is an open access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or their institution; there is not embargo period. The journal allows readers to read, download, print, search, or link to the full texts of its articles, without asking prior permission from the copyright holder. Any other use, including distributing non-commercially, must be approved by the author, unless such use is allowed by a license.
Peer Review
Synthesis is not a peer-reviewed journal, but rather an editor-reviewed journal. In contrast to the traditional peer-review model, our publication stands apart as we prioritize a hands-on editorial process. Our dedicated team of editors actively reviews submissions and collaborates closely with authors. Our goal as editors is not only to evaluate the merit of the content but also to assist authors in refining their work. This unique model allows for a personalized interaction and many opportunities to update and edit submissions - this ensures that each piece undergoes a thoughtful and constructive editorial process.
Authorship Standards
Authorship should be limited to those individuals who have contributed in a meaningful and substantive way to its intellectual content. Order of authorship will be determined alphabetically by last name. To change order of authorship, all authors can send a request to the editor.
Licences
Synthesis: A Digital Journal of Student Science Communication allows the following licences for submission:
Publication Fees
Synthesis is an open access journal that has no publication fees.