Public Understanding of Science

1. Article types
2. Editorial policies
   2.1 Peer review policy
   2.2 Authorship
3. Publishing Policies
   3.1 Publication ethics
   3.1.1 Plagiarism
4. How to submit your manuscript
5. Journal contributor’s publishing agreement
   5.1 SAGE Choice and Open Access
6. Declaration of conflicting interests policy
7. Other conventions
8. Acknowledgments
   8.1 Funding acknowledgement
9. Permissions
10. Manuscript style
    10.1 File types
    10.2 Journal style
    10.2.1 Tables and figures
    10.3 Reference style
    10.4 Manuscript preparation
    10.4.1 Keywords and abstracts: Helping readers find your article online
    10.4.2 Corresponding author contact details
    10.4.3 Guidelines for submitting artwork, figures and other graphics
    10.4.4 Guidelines for submitting supplemental files
    10.4.5 English language editing services
11. After acceptance
    11.1 Proofs
    11.2 E-Prints
    11.3 SAGE production
    11.4 OnlineFirst publication
12. Further information

1. Article types

Types of submissions:
1. Theoretical-empirical papers or critical reviews of a research area - maximum 8000 words including Abstract, Notes and References.
2. Research notes, practical innovations, essays or commentaries - maximum 4000 words including Abstract, Notes and References.
3. Single book reviews (maximum 400 words) or comparative reviews of several new publications (maximum 1200 words) - for further details, please contact the Book Reviews Editor, Dr Angela Cassidy, Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, Department of History, Room C3, East Wing, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS. E-mail: angela.cassidy@gmail.com. Completed reviews should be submitted directly to the Reviews Editor rather via the ScholarOne process described below. For a full list of books available for review please visit www.goodreads.com/PUSBooks  

For clarifications on these three types of submissions, please consult the editorial of the January issue 2010.

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2. Editorial policies

2.1 Peer review policy

Public Understanding of Science operates a strictly blinded peer review process in which the reviewer's name is withheld from the author and the author's name from the reviewer. The reviewer may -- at his or her own discretion -- opt to reveal his name to the author in the review but our standard policy practice is for both identities to remain concealed.

Review Process: Manuscripts may be reviewed initially by the Editors and only those meeting the aims and scope of the journal will be sent for outside review. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two referees. All manuscripts are reviewed as rapidly as possible.

2.2 Authorship

All parties who have made a substantive contribution to the article should be listed as authors. Principal authorship, authorship order, and other publication credits should be based on the relative scientific or professional contributions of the individuals involved, regardless of their status. A student is usually listed as principal author on any multiple-authored publication that substantially derives from the student’s dissertation or thesis.

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3. Publishing Policies

3.1 Publication ethics

SAGE is committed to upholding the integrity of the academic record. We encourage authors to refer to the Committee on Publication Ethics’ International Standards for Authors and view the Publication Ethics page on the SAGE Author Gateway

3.1.1 Plagiarism

Public Understanding of Science and SAGE take issues of copyright infringement, plagiarism or other breaches of best practice in publication very seriously. We seek to protect the rights of our authors and we always investigate claims of plagiarism or misuse of published articles. Equally, we seek to protect the reputation of the journal against malpractice. Submitted articles may be checked with duplication-checking software. Where an article, for example, is found to have plagiarised other work or included third-party copyright material without permission or with insufficient acknowledgement, or where the authorship of the article is contested, we reserve the right to take action including, but not limited to: publishing an erratum or corrigendum (correction); retracting the article; taking up the matter with the head of department or dean of the author's institution and/or relevant academic bodies or societies; or taking appropriate legal action.

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4. How to submit your manuscript

Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you carefully read and adhere to all the guidelines and instructions to authors provided below. Manuscripts not conforming to these guidelines may be returned.

Public Understanding of Science is hosted on SAGE Track a web based online submission and peer review system powered by ScholarOne? Manuscripts. Please read the Manuscript Submission guidelines below, and then simply visit http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/pscience to login and submit your article online.

IMPORTANT: Please check whether you already have an account in the system before trying to create a new one. If you have reviewed or authored for the journal in the past year it is likely that you will have had an account created. For further guidance on submitting your manuscript online please visit ScholarOne Online Help.

All papers must be submitted via the online system. If you would like to discuss your paper prior to submission, please refer to the contact details below.

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5. Journal contributor’s publishing agreement   

Before publication SAGE requires the author as the rights holder to sign a Journal Contributor?s Publishing Agreement. For more information please visit our Frequently Asked Questions on the SAGE Journal Author Gateway.

5.1 SAGE Choice and Open Access

If you or your funder wish your article to be freely available online to non subscribers immediately upon publication (gold open access), you can opt for it to be included in SAGE Choice, subject to payment of a publication fee. The manuscript submission and peer review procedure is unchanged. On acceptance of your article, you will be asked to let SAGE know directly if you are choosing SAGE Choice. To check journal eligibility and the publication fee, please visit SAGE Choice. For more information on open access options and compliance at SAGE, including self author archiving deposits (green open access) visit SAGE Publishing Policies on our Journal Author Gateway.

Public Understanding of Science and SAGE take issues of copyright infringement, plagiarism or other breaches of best practice in publication very seriously. We seek to protect the rights of our authors and we always investigate claims of plagiarism or misuse of articles published in the journal. Equally, we seek to protect the reputation of the journal against malpractice. Submitted articles may be checked using duplication-checking software. Where an article is found to have plagiarised other work or included third-party copyright material without permission or with insufficient acknowledgement, or where authorship of the article is contested, we reserve the right to take action including, but not limited to: publishing an erratum or corrigendum (correction); retracting the article (removing it from the journal); taking up the matter with the head of department or dean of the author?s institution and/or relevant academic bodies or societies; banning the author from publication in the journal or all SAGE journals, or appropriate legal action.

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6. Declaration of conflicting interests

Within your Journal Contributor?s Publishing Agreement you will be required to make a certification with respect to a declaration of conflicting interests. Public Understanding of Science does not require a declaration of conflicting interests but recommends you review the good practice guidelines on the SAGE Journal Author Gateway.

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7. Other conventions

None applicable.

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8. Acknowledgements

Any acknowledgements should appear first at the end of your article prior to your Declaration of Conflicting Interests (if applicable), any notes and your References.

All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in an `Acknowledgements? section. Examples of those who might be acknowledged include a person who provided purely technical help, writing assistance, or a department chair who provided only general support. Authors should disclose whether they had any writing assistance and identify the entity that paid for this assistance.

8.1 Funding Acknowledgement

To comply with the guidance for Research Funders, Authors and Publishers issued by the Research Information Network (RIN), Public Understanding of Science additionally requires all Authors to acknowledge their funding in a consistent fashion under a separate heading. Please visit Funding Acknowledgement on the SAGE Journal Author Gateway for funding acknowledgement guidelines.

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9. Permissions

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission from copyright holders for reproducing any illustrations, tables, figures or lengthy quotations previously published elsewhere. For further information including guidance on fair dealing for criticism and review, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions on the SAGE Journal Author Gateway.

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10. Manuscript style

10.1 File types

Only electronic files conforming to the journal's guidelines will be accepted. Preferred formats for the text and tables of your manuscript are Word DOC, RTF, XLS. LaTeX files are also accepted. Templates are available on the Manuscript Submission Guidelines page of our Author Gateway.

10.2 Journal Style

Public Understanding of Science conforms to the SAGE house style. Click here to review guidelines on SAGE UK House Style.

10.2.1 Tables and Figures

Please note that the journal will publish a maximum of five tables and figures in combination.

10.3 Reference Style

Public Understanding of Science adheres to the SAGE Harvard reference style. Click here to review the guidelines on SAGE Harvard to ensure your manuscript conforms to this reference style.

10.4. Manuscript Preparation

The text should be double-spaced throughout and with a minimum of 3cm for left and right hand margins and 5cm at head and foot. Text should be standard 10 or 12 point.

10.4.1 Keywords and Abstracts: Helping readers find your article online

The title, keywords and abstract are key to ensuring readers find your article online through online search engines such as Google. Please refer to the information and guidance on how best to title your article, write your abstract and select your keywords by visiting SAGE?s Journal Author Gateway Guidelines on How to Help Readers Find Your Article Online.

10.4.2 Corresponding Author Contact details

Provide full contact details for the corresponding author including email, mailing address and telephone numbers. Academic affiliations are required for all co-authors. These details should be presented separately to the main text of the article to facilitate anonymous peer review.

10.4.3 Guidelines for submitting artwork, figures and other graphics

For guidance on the preparation of illustrations, pictures and graphs in electronic format, please visit SAGE?s Manuscript Submission Guidelines.

Figures supplied in colour will appear in colour online regardless of whether or not these illustrations are reproduced in colour in the printed version. For specifically requested colour reproduction in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from SAGE after receipt of your accepted article.

10.4.4 Guidelines for submitting supplemental files

This journal is able to host approved supplemental materials online, alongside the full-text of articles. Supplemental files will be subjected to peer-review alongside the article. For more information please refer to SAGE?s Guidelines for Authors on Supplemental Files.

10.4.5 English Language Editing services

Non-English speaking authors who would like to refine their use of language in their manuscripts might consider using a professional editing service. Visit English Language Editing Services for further information.

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11. After acceptance           

11.1 Proofs

We will email a PDF of the proofs to the corresponding author.

11.2 E-Prints

SAGE provides authors with access to a PDF of their final article. For further information please visit http://www.sagepub.co.uk/authors/journal/reprint.sp.

11.3 SAGE Production

At SAGE we place an extremely strong emphasis on the highest production standards possible. We attach high importance to our quality service levels in copy-editing, typesetting, printing, and online publication (http://online.sagepub.com/). We also seek to uphold excellent author relations throughout the publication process.

We value your feedback to ensure we continue to improve our author service levels. On publication all corresponding authors will receive a brief survey questionnaire on your experience of publishing in Public Understanding of Science with SAGE.

11.4 OnlineFirst Publication

A large number of SAGE journals benefit from OnlineFirst, a feature offered through SAGE?s electronic journal platform, SAGE Journals Online. It allows final revision articles (completed articles in queue for assignment to an upcoming issue) to be hosted online prior to their inclusion in a final print and online journal issue which significantly reduces the lead time between submission and publication. For more information please visit our OnlineFirst Fact Sheet

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12. Further information

Any correspondence, queries or additional requests for information on the Manuscript Submission process should be sent to the Editorial Office as follows:

Email: Public.Understanding.Science.Journal.Editor@lse.ac.uk

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