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Science Communication

Science Communication

Linking Theory and Practice

eISSN: 15528545 | ISSN: 10755470 | Current volume: 46 | Current issue: 5 Frequency: Bi-monthly

Science Communication is an international and highly ranked communication research journal that publishes manuscripts that are of the highest quality, in terms of theory and methods. We define science broadly to include social science, technology, environment, engineering, and health, as well as the physical and natural sciences. However, across all scientific contexts, communication must be at the center of the investigation. We also recognize the critical importance of science communication practice and expect all manuscripts to address the practical implications of their research, as well as theory.

We are not an open-access journal and thus we do not charge authors publication fees. However, work that is accepted for publication can pursue an open-access option. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-publishing-options-0

All manuscripts submitted to Science Communication are initially reviewed by the editor or an associate editor. This process can take up to two weeks. If the manuscript passes that initial review (is judged to be a good fit for the journal and is original and well-written), then the manuscript is entered into the blind peer-review process. At the start of the peer-review process, the editorial team seeks willing reviewers who are qualified to discern the merits of the work. At no time do the peer reviewers see the identity of the authors. Once we are able to locate two or three area experts to review a paper – and they agree to complete the review – our reviewers are given about four weeks to complete their reviews. Once the reviews are returned to the journal, the editorial team renders a final decision of reject, revise and resubmit, or accept within a week of receiving the reviews. We receive 1-2 new submissions a day. We publish about 30 research articles each year. This level of selectivity is typical of highly competitive journals.





The primary aim of Science Communication is to publish peer-reviewed research that is focused on both science and communication and is of the highest quality, in terms of theory and methods. As mentioned in our journal description, we define science broadly to include social science, technology, environment, engineering, and health, as well as the physical and natural sciences.

Our editorial team and reviewers welcome qualitative and quantitative, inductive and deductive research methods, as long as methods are well-explained, transparent, well-executed, and follow best-practices in reporting.

Authors should make clearly articulated contributions to larger theoretical and practical contexts that are relevant to science communication. That is, we expect all manuscripts to address the practical communication implications of their research, as well as the contribution to theory.

Among the myriad aspects of science communication that have been and continue to be explored within our pages:

Science communication among experts and professionals
The history of science communication
The practice of science journalism
Science-related content across media platforms and public-facing messages
Public engagement with science
Information-related and communication-related behaviors in the context of science
Communication’s impact on public understanding of science and public policy

We regularly publish full research manuscripts of 7000-9000 words, including references. Periodically, we publish research notes of 4000-6000 words that report preliminary but provocative findings. We also publish commentaries of 1500-2000 words that focus on emerging issues and trends in the field and are presented in a style that is appropriate to our readers (academic and practitioners).

An area that we are especially interested in expanding within the pages of our journal is inclusive science communication. Thus, we enthusiastically invite submissions from scholars whose work is focused on identities and/or communities that have historically not been included in the study of science communication.

Editor
LeeAnn Kahlor University of Texas at Austin, USA
Associate Editors
Ayelet Baram-Tsabari Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
Graham Dixon Ohio State University, USA
Timothy Fung Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
Amanda Hinnant University of Missouri, USA
Laura Rickard University of Maine, USA
Janet Z. Yang State University of New York at Buffalo, USA
Commentary Editor
Linda Billings National Institute of Aerospace, USA
Editors Emeritae
Editorial Advisory Board
Lee Ahern Pennsylvania State University, USA
Lucy Atkinson University of Texas, USA
John C. Besley Michigan State University, USA
Toby Bolsen Georgia State University, USA
Rick E. Borchelt Office of Science, Department of Energy, USA
Amanda Boyd Washington State University, USA
Paul Brewer University of Delaware, USA
Dominique Brossard University of Wisconsin, USA
Michael Cacciatore University of Georgia, USA
Suzanne de Cheveigné National Centre for Scientific Research, France
Haoran "Chris" Chu University of Florida, USA
Christopher Clarke George Mason University, USA
Cynthia Coleman Portland State University, USA
Julia Corbett University of Utah, USA
Michael Dahlstrom Iowa State University, USA
Sarah R. Davies University of Vienna, Austria
Anthony Dudo University of Texas at Austin, USA
William Evans University of Alabama, USA
Bankole Falade London School of Economics & Political Science, UK
Jane Gregory University of Cambridge, UK
Robert J. Griffin Marquette University, USA
Lars Guenther Ludwig Maximilian Universitat, Munich, Germany
Miguel García Guerrero Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas in Mexico, Mexico
Nancy Harrington University of Kentucky, USA
P. Sol Hart University of Michigan, USA
Stephen Hilgartner Cornell University, USA
Jay Hmielowski University of Florida, USA
Shirley Ho Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Avery Holton University of Utah, USA
Yan Huang University of Houston, USA
Yoori Hwang Myongji University, South Korea
Jakob Jensen University of Utah, USA
Hepeng Jia Soochow University, China
Mo Jones-Jang Boston University, USA
Marina Joubert Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Hyekyung "Kim" Kim Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
William Kinsella North Carolina State University, USA
Bruce V. Lewenstein Cornell University, USA
Robert A. Logan University of Missouri-Columbia, USA
Nancy Longnecker University of Otago, New Zealand
Pieter Maeseele University of Antwerp, Belgium
Katherine A. McComas Cornell University, USA
Merryn McKinnon Australian National University, Australia
Jessica Myrick Pennsylvania State University, USA
Mary L. Nucci Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, USA
Chelsea Ratcliff University of Georgia, USA
María Len-Ríos The University of Minnesota, USA
Sonny Rosenthal Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Katherine E. Rowan George Mason University, USA
Dietram Scheufele University of Wisconsin, USA
Michael Siegrist ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Hollie Smith University of Oregon, USA
Brian G. Southwell University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Jocelyn Steinke University of Connecticut, USA
Bruno Takahashi Michigan State University, USA
Esi Thompson Indiana University, USA
Debbie Treise University of Florida, USA
Sean Upshaw University of Texas at Austin, USA
Matthew S. VanDyke The University of Alabama, USA
Emily Vraga University of Minnesota, USA
Kim Walsh-Childers University of Florida, USA
Nathan Walter Northwestern University, USA
Lillie Williamson University of Wisconsin, USA
Jessica Willoughby Washington State University, USA
Ronald Yaros University of Maryland, USA
Sara Yeo University of Utah, USA
Leona Yi-Fan Su University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign, USA
Shupei Yuan Northern Illinois University, USA
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