November/December 2020
September/October 2020
‘News’ items report briefly on important scientific news or developing stories (e.g. progress with regard to the SKA or new power generation systems, early findings from a research team). Currency and relevance are the critical considerations for News items.
News & Views items are most usually opinion pieces relating to current issues in the worlds of science, technology and education: news with a position taken and explained or argued by the author.
Both News and News & Views articles are usually 1000–2000 words and do not include an abstract or summary paragraph.
‘News’ items report briefly on important scientific news or developing stories (e.g. progress with regard to the SKA or new power generation systems, early findings from a research team). Currency and relevance are the critical considerations for News items.
News & Views items are most usually opinion pieces relating to current issues in the worlds of science, technology and education: news with a position taken and explained or argued by the author.
Both News and News & Views articles are usually 1000–2000 words and do not include an abstract or summary paragraph.
‘News’ items report briefly on important scientific news or developing stories (e.g. progress with regard to the SKA or new power generation systems, early findings from a research team). Currency and relevance are the critical considerations for News items.
News & Views items are most usually opinion pieces relating to current issues in the worlds of science, technology and education: news with a position taken and explained or argued by the author.
Both News and News & Views articles are usually 1000–2000 words and do not include an abstract or summary paragraph.
‘News’ items report briefly on important scientific news or developing stories (e.g. progress with regard to the SKA or new power generation systems, early findings from a research team). Currency and relevance are the critical considerations for News items.
News & Views items are most usually opinion pieces relating to current issues in the worlds of science, technology and education: news with a position taken and explained or argued by the author.
Both News and News & Views articles are usually 1000–2000 words and do not include an abstract or summary paragraph.
Book Reviews are reviews of books that are usually of a scientific and scholarly nature and whose subject matter meets the requirements of the journal – i.e. books that are written in a language and style that would make them comprehensible (and of interest) to readers from a range of scientific disciplines. Book Reviews generally are commissioned but unsolicited submissions are considered, as are suggestions of books for review. Book Reviews are normally not longer than 1000 words but exceptions are occasionally considered if the nature of the book warrants greater detail.
Book reviewers should please include a title of their review and the following book information: title of book; book cover illustration, author(s)/editor(s); publisher; city of publication; year of publication; ISBN number; price.
Research Briefs are short (150 words) summaries of recently published research findings, primarily from other South African scientific and scholarly journals. The primary material is sometimes provided by the editors of the other journals but may also be provided by researchers who would like their findings to be made available to a wider readership than that of their own disciplinary journals. Research Briefs may also be submitted by readers who feel that a particular research project/programme deserves greater prominence than it currently enjoys.
Each item should contain the name of the broad disciplinary area concerned; an arresting caption; a description in ca 150 words of the main findings and conclusions in the paper, in lay language; and the full citation of the paper.
Scientific Correspondence items are short/moderate length (1500–2500 words) letters of a generally scientific nature. They are not letters of complaint or comments on previously published articles, but rather letters on interesting and possibly debatable issues such as ‘How long does it take to complete a Phd?’ or ‘Number theory and the unity of science’.
Commentaries come in a variety of forms, but they are most often views regarding scientific challenges or opportunities that have arisen out of research experiences. Commentaries can, however, also present the summarised results of research projects, or comments on such research findings, that have direct policy implications and/or immediate social value. Commentaries of a similar or related nature may also be considered; please consult previous issues for examples. Commentaries should be between 2000 and 4000 words and should not include an abstract/summary paragraph.
Research Letters are short reports and should be up-to-date accounts of interesting and noteworthy scientific developments. Although these reports may be concerned with very particular advances, they should be of wider than specialist interest. Research Letters must be no more than 2000 words (including abstract, significance and references) and must contain no more than 5 figures and/or tables. Research Letters are given priority in terms of publication after acceptance.
Research Articles are longer papers. Although these reports may be concerned with very particular advances, they should be of wider than specialist interest. Research Articles must be no more than 6000 words (including abstract, significance and references) and must contain no more than 10 figures and/or tables.
Review Articles should be up-to-date surveys of important current developments in science. Although these reports may be concerned with very particular advances, they should be of wider than specialist interest. Review Articles must be no more than 6000 words (including abstract, significance and references) and must contain no more than 10 figures and/or tables.
All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence; copyright is retained by the authors. Readers are welcome to reproduce, share and adapt the content without permission provided the source is attributed.
Disclaimer: The publisher and editors accept no responsibility for statements made by the authors
The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.