Frequently Asked Questions
For Frequently Asked Questions about our new cohort-based submission system for STEM projects, please see our recent announcement article.
Who can submit an article?
Any individual or group of young people aged 22 and under.
If you are age 23 and over, and wish to submit an article, your project should have been undertaken when you were aged 22 or under, and within the past 3 years.
What can my article be about?
There are two key areas all articles published by Youth STEM Matters should be relevant to:
One or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals cover a broad range of issues, including improving health and education, ending inequalities, promoting economic growth and protecting our planet. Find out more about the SDGs here, and if you’re still unsure, send us an email.
AND
At least one area of Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths: Your article can be based on any area(s) of science, technology, engineering and maths. We believe in a broad definition of STEM, and welcome submissions exploring all scientific disciplines, whether it’s astronomy, zoology, psychology, geography, design, chemistry, construction, to name a few, or something else.
What style should my article be written in?
We have 3 accepted styles for Youth STEM Matters articles - find out which one is best for you to share your ideas!
Original Research: Original research is new, never done before experimentation, investigation, discovery, design, manufacture or invention. There is a specific format for writing original research articles, so we’ve written some guidance, which is available here.
Review Articles: Review articles summarise the current understanding of a specific topic. They should still provide new insights, but these take the form of the author’s evaluation of the original research undertaken by others. There are specific sections that should be included in review articles- find more information here.
Science Communication (Feature, Case Study, Experience, Perspective, Interview, News): These article styles are less structured, giving you freedom to write in your own style. They’re usually more conversational and less formal than original research or review articles. Some examples could include:
Your experience of attending an event, taking part in a science fair or doing work experience
Writing about an area of STEM that you find interesting
An interview with someone working in STEM, or a young person who is making a difference through STEM
Reporting on a recent scientific advancement.
Which subject areas does Youth STEM Matters publish?
We publish articles from all areas of STEM, and take a broad definition of what STEM means. Your article could be in one or more of the following subject areas: biology, biochemistry, chemistry, design & technology, environmental science, engineering, geography, geology, materials science, maths, medicine, physics, psychology, textiles [NB: This list is not exhaustive!]. Your article could also be more broadly related to STEM, such as an article about an aspect of diversity and inclusion in STEM, STEM engagement, or STEM education.
I’m aged 12 or under - does that affect the process?
Yes, but only slightly! Due to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws, a parent or guardian must submit the article and communicate with the Youth STEM Matters team on your behalf. Don’t worry though - you’ll still be in charge of making any revisions to your article, and you’ll be the one to get the credit as author when it gets published!
I’ve submitted my article - what happens next?
Congratulations on submitting your article!
If you’ve submitted Original Research or a Review Article, your article will undergo a check to ensure we have everything we need to complete the review (we’ll contact you if it doesn’t) and will then be assigned to reviewers. They’ll complete their review and pass the article to an editor, who will then make a decision on whether your article will be accepted, rejected or whether you’ll be asked to make some revisions.
If you’ve submitted a headline for a Science Communication Article, we’ll consider all of the headlines submitted by the closing date, and then let you know whether we’d like to publish your proposed article. We’ll then work with you to perfect your article and once it’s ready it will be published!
Who reviews articles submitted to Youth STEM Matters?
Articles are peer-reviewed by our team of reviewers and editors. All reviewers and editors undergo training to ensure that we can provide authors with the best possible reviews. Our goal is to make your article the best it can be.
What is peer-review and double blind?
Peer-review is when an author’s work is evaluated by other people of a similar competency - that’s why our authors and reviewers are all young people.
Double blind means that when reviewers receive Original Research or Review Articles, they are anonymised - reviewers won’t know what your name is or any of your personal details. This reduces bias, helping ensure that every author receives a fair review of their work.
What is your Ethics Policy, and why do you have one?
Our ethics policy can be found here. It’s a moral responsibility for us to ensure that the articles we publish have demonstrated good ethical practice (this includes things like conducting research with integrity, following (inter)national regulations for studies involving human or animal subjects, and avoiding plagiarism). Overall, we think it’s important to foster an ethical research culture amongst young scientists.
How do I construct graphs, tables and figures for my article?
We’ve created an easy to follow ‘Graphical Presentation Guide’ for doing just that! Well constructed graphs, tables and figures will speed up the review process.
How long does it take for an article to be reviewed?
Review times for Original Research and Review Articles can vary, depending on how many revisions are required for an article to be published. However, we aim to ensure all authors receive a decision from the initial review within 6-8 weeks of submission.
For Science Communication Articles, the process is slightly different, so you’ll work with your Science Communication Editor to agree timescales for your article.
Will it cost me to submit my article?
It is free to submit a headline for, and publish, a Science Communication Article.
For Submission of Original Research and Review Articles, there is a submission fee of $30 (US Dollars - equivalent of ~£21) - this is to cover the costs of running the journal. Please contact us if the cost will be a barrier - we’d like to help make sure you can still get your work published!
We are currently working hard to find sponsors to allow us to provide subsidised submissions to young people who find the submission fee a barrier - if you can help, please email Youth STEM 2030 Founder & CEO, Mhairi.
A teacher, parent, guardian, tutor or youth worker helped me - can I still submit my article?
All Youth STEM Matters authors should be aged 22 and under (see age guidance above). However, reasonable assistance can be given by any of the aforementioned people, such as helping you structure your article, reading through a draft, giving you advice on the experimental methods to follow, providing you with equipment, or checking spelling and grammar. [NB: This list is not exhaustive.] These people can be acknowledged in the acknowledgements section.
Overall, all work/thinking submitted should be your own, but people can support you in a variety of ways to complete your project.
I have already published my article elsewhere - can I still publish with Youth STEM Matters?
Unfortunately we only accept submissions of work that has not previously been published elsewhere (we would be happy to receive a different article from you though!). After your article has been published by Youth STEM Matters, it also cannot be published anywhere else. If you’re unsure about this, please get in contact!
How do I withdraw my submission?
Please send us an email with your full name, the names of any co-authors you had, your article title and the reason you wish to withdraw. We reserve the right not to withdraw submissions for any reason including, but not limited to, if we do not believe that the request has genuinely come from the author(s).
I need more information, have a concern or would like to share feedback - who do I contact?
We’re always happy to hear from authors and young people who would like to submit (or their parents/guardians or teachers/supervisors), whether that’s to ask questions, raise a concern or share some feedback.
Please contact us by emailing our Editor in Chief: editor@youthstem2030.org