American Journal of Science Instructions for Contributors Manuscripts

Focus

AJS publishes research that expands our knowledge of the Earth, with an emphasis the study of the structure, composition, and evolution of our planet, and the physical, chemical, and biological processes that have influenced its evolution. Recent papers have focused on geochemistry, geochronology, geodynamics, geomorphology, basin analysis, Earth history, petrology, tectonics, and thermochronology, but new directions are welcomed.

 

Publication Options

Below is a list of our publication options. These publication options are distinguished, in part, by their length, which we measure in terms of a publication unit (PU). Briefly stated, each 500-word increment of the main text counts for 1 PU, and each figure and table counts for 1.5 PU (see below for full description). The term free limit is used below to indicate the maximum PU length that will be published free of charge.

a)     Science Paper: A primary contribution, presenting original research with a full documentation of relevant research questions, background literature, methods, results, and conclusions. Open submission by author. Free length is 45 PU. Longer papers are charged an excess fee.

b)    Science Review: A secondary contribution in that the paper is focused on the assessment, integration, and synthesis of previously published work. Submission by invitation, but unsolicited proposals will be considered. Free length is 45 PU. Longer papers are charged an excess fee.

c)     Science Note: A short contribution about a topic of broad interest to our readers. The contribution may be focused on new data, a new hypothesis or interpretation, or an opinion or perspective. The topic must be compact enough to be fully supported within the limits of this format. Open submission by author. Limited to a maximum length of 4 PU (no fees).

d)    Technical Report: A publication that describes methods with significant utility for science research, such as a laboratory procedure, a computer program, or a database. Open submission by author. Free length is 45 PU. Longer papers are charged an excess fee.

e)     Comment: A short critical assessment of a recent AJS publication. Open submission by author. Limited to a maximum length of 4 PU (no fees).

f)     Reply: The authors’ reply to a comment about their AJS publication. Limited to a maximum length of 4 PU (no fees).

g)    Errata: Corrections to an AJS publication, as provided by the authors of that publication. Usually very brief (no fees).

 

Evaluation Criteria

We seek papers that rank high in terms of the following criteria (after Larsson and Patriksson, 2016). Please consider these criteria as you write your paper.

1. Relevance: How does the paper relate to current scientific imperatives?
2. Generality: What is the reach of the paper in terms of research focus and results?
3. Originality: Is the research unique, creative, or innovative?
4. Progress: Does the paper provide a significant advance in scientific knowledge?
5. Accessibility: Is the paper accessible to a broad audience?
6. Scientific Foundation: Does the paper establish a clear foundation based on accepted theory and/or methodology? And is that foundation clearly described and referenced at the beginning of the paper?
7. Integration: Does the paper provide a clear integration of previous knowledge with new results? Does it make connections with research in other fields, or indicate a promising approach for future research?
8. Consistency: Are the results and conclusions of the paper consistent with the claims and ambitions stated in the introduction?
9. News Value: Is the paper of interest to the broader scientific community or to the general public?

 

 

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