Journal welcomes undergraduate research articles
Taylor & Francis who publish journals on behalf of the Institute invites research articles by undergraduates for inclusion in Materials Science and Technology.
These articles will be in the format of short papers with all works originating from projects conducted in academic, industry, or laboratory environments.
The initiative is designed to contribute and complement engineering and science education. Studies have shown that undergraduate research can lead to improvements in academic performance, retention in academic programs and increases in self-efficacy. These experiences help inform student decisions about future education and career paths, often being a motivation to pursue Masters and Ph.D. level degrees and research careers in STEM fields.
Materials Science and Technology hopes that peer-reviewed articles will provide a motivational objective for undergraduate researchers. There is also a need to evaluate effective approaches to undergraduate research, and Materials Science and Technology welcomes assessments, led by non-undergraduate authors, of undergraduate materials research programs.
Quotes from the Editors:
Dr Radhakanta Rana of Tata Steel, The Netherlands said, ‘We have launched Undergraduate Research Articles as a new submission type in Materials Science and Technology to provide an avenue for budding researchers to publish their new results. I hope that the peer review will enhance the quality of undergraduate-led research and the papers will add valuable information to archival literature. Also, the scheme will motivate and attract the young minds towards a research career in future’.
Prof Nick Jones from University of Cambridge, UK applauded the move, ‘Many research ideas and hypotheses are first investigated in undergraduate research projects. These studies often produce the key initial results that provide impetus to a new research theme and help to secure funding for further work. By launching this new short format article, we are recognising the contribution undergraduate researchers can make to scientific understanding and are providing a mechanism by which they can share these key results, whilst also gaining first-hand experience of concise scientific communication’.