Martin Luck, Neil Morris, Julian Park, Jon Green, Momna Hejmadi, Cynthia Burek

Jennifer Boyd

““Bioscience Horizons: Bioscience Horizons: The evolution of an International Student JournalThe evolution of an International Student Journal””

HEA STEM Conference , Edinburgh, April 2014

The benefits?• Motivator for enthusiastic and able students• Publication of valuable research• First step on the publication ladder for those

considering research• Useful addition to graduate’s CV• Showcase for junior cohorts…this is what you

can achieve.• Marketing tool?

Existing opportunities

• Mainstream bioscience journals• In house UG journals….Origins, BURN, Biolog-e• Cross-disciplinary journals such as

“Reinvention” …Warwick, The Plymouth Scientist….

• Bioscience Horizons

The Bioscience Horizons management team

• Martin Luck, University of Nottingham (Chair of Management Board)

• Neil Morris, University of Leeds (Editor in Chief)• Julian Park, University of Reading• Cynthia Burek, University of Chester• Jonathan Green, Univrsity of Birmingham• Momna Hejmadi, University of Bath• Jennifer Boyd, Oxford University Press

Specific objectives of the journal

• To promote the link between teaching and research in Higher Education

• To provide a repository of high quality student research which will be useful to other students and staff

• To provide a forum for students, their supervisors and Universities, to showcase high quality research work

• To illustrate the student skill base to prospective employers.

How has it happened?Publishing agreement with OUPJournal has a website, see

www.biohorizons.oxfordjournals.orgOUP published two e-pilot editions in 2007/08, with

hardcopy for publicity2011/2012 saw major overhaul of the submission process2013 the journal went International and included taught

M-level outputsSupervisors can now be co-authors

Where and how many?• 64 different HEIs since establishment• Papers from 32 different institutions in 2013• 32 new papers in 2013, 21 being primary research, 11

reviews• Currently

– 10 accepted following revision– 3 undergoing minor changes– 11 undergoing major revision– 9 rejected/withdrawn– 8 under review

International?

The review process

• International• Usually two reviewers• Quality, quality, quality• Equivalent to “normal” journal review• Rejection is common and can be awkward!

Are the papers being read?

Example titles

• The effects of immune challenge on locust salivary glands in vitro

• The thermal biology of lizards in relation to body surface temperature and lizard length.

• Factors controlling internal initiation of transcription at PRY3 in budding yeast

• An investigation to determine the variation in marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza) populations at Moses Gate Country Park, Bolton

Cited Articles

Common queries/issues

• If it is published in Bioscience Horizons can it be published elsewhere as well?

• What about authorship?• Does the journal have an impact factor?• I do not think I can convince colleagues to engage

with this• The supervisor of our best UG project wants to

publish in another journal• Are they just like “normal” papers?

Successes• Next year will be the 7th volume• Financial support from Founder Universities,

BBSRC and Professional Societies to keep going• Bioscience Horizons was runner up in the

Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) Award for Publishing Innovation in 2008

• Various publications about the Journal

Chairs Prize 2013

• Best research paper - Effect of woodstack structure on invertebrate abundance and diversity by Richard Sands

• Best review paper – mGlu5 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of fragile X syndrome by Lear Robertson

What do the authors think?

• Bioscience Horizons provided me with a fantastic introduction to the processes involved in publishing scientific research, Michael Goldsworthy, 2008

• At an interview my prospective employer searched for my name on the internet, found my publication and offered me the position. Victoria Sebbage 2009

• The opportunity gave me confidence in my writing, making the publication of further work less daunting. Sarah-Jane Haig 2011

Tips for those considering

• Clear about your objectives• Dedicated team with clear responsibilities• Try and work with a publishing house• Consider the financial viability• Good communication is essential• Not everybody will share your enthusiasm!

Concluding comments• Very high quality papers from very able students• Students very enthusiastic about the process• We hope as volumes continue to accumulate it will provide

a repository of UG excellence for reference• Constant awareness raising…• On-going sustainability issues

• You may be asked to review a paper…I hope you will!

Contact Bioscience Horizons Editorial Office

<biohorizons.editorialoffice@oup.com> or the presenters directly