PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Journal of Physics Special Topics

Mervyn Roy mr6@le.ac.uk room S6www2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/people/mervynroy

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Journal of Physics Special Topics

• Author, referee and edit papers for the department’s physics journal

• Authors – write original, quantitative, physics articles

• Referees – critically review other authors’ articles

• Editors – review referee reports and make final decision on whether articles are published or not

• Run in exactly the same way as a professional journal

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Why?

• Practise the skills of a professional research physicist

• Transferable skills (employability)Formulate problemsCommunicate scientific resultsGive and take professional criticismGroup workTake part in the formal process of running the journal

• Media exposure (work with University press office)

• Publications indexed on Google Scholar!

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

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The process

Authors formulate

problem and write article

Editors distribute paper to referees

Referees review the

article

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eetin

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Thur

sday

re

port

sub

mitt

edResubmit for

review

Authors correct paper

Paper appears

in Journal

Publish

Editors consider referee reports

Decline submission

Revisions required

Authors correct paper

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

The marks• Assessed by number and quality of publications• Groups ranked by journal points:

Submission = 1, Publication = 2, Referee report = 1, Press Release = 1-3

80

65

50

Average quality of work = X%

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

points % mark

Papers and press release re-reviewed by staff at end – generate average mark and simple ABCD grading: +3 marks for A-graded papers, - 3 marks for D-graded papers (and -1 for reviews of these papers)

Points scaled to %

mark at end of module.

group

X %

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Useful information• The journal

physics.le.ac.uk/journals/index.php/pstPast papersTechnical information for using the websiteLinks to comprehensive guides on mr6 website

• mr6 websitewww2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/people/mervynroyGuide for authorsStyle guide / templateGuide for refereesGuide for Editors, and example minutes of the editorial board

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Authors• Writing a paper

www2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/people/mervynroy/lectures/pst-authors-guide.pdf

• All papers must follow the PST style guidewww2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/people/mervynroy/lectures/pst-style-guide.docx

• Submitting a paper to the journalphysics.le.ac.uk/journals/index.php/pst -> ABOUT -> GUIDE FOR AUTHORS

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Writing a paper 1• Find an ‘original’ idea

Physics Challenge style problemsEveryday experience Fiction/MediaUndergraduate physics

I wonder why… how does that work… what would happen if…

Published PST papers extensions, errors, suggestions for further work

• Papers should be accessible to all MPhys students avoid overly specialised material (i.e. projects)think about all areas of physics – not just dynamics! (waves, astrophysics, semiconductors, quantum etc. etc.)

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Writing a paper 2• Develop a (simple) model and calculate something

quantitativeTrends, explanations, analysis better than a single numberCan you quantify what your model doesn’t include?

• Write the paperCommunicate your results clearly – use a formal writing style: correct grammar, spelling etc. Avoid jargon/acronyms. Keep things simple.

Conform to the style guide Proof read!

• Work as a group – all group members will be authors of each paper, and receive the same module mark

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Writing a paper 3

• What is an acceptable standard?see previous issues of the journalmake sure the content is appropriate!peer review – so, ultimately, it depends on your peers also see PST authors guide

• Feedback (how to improve your work)peer review – via referee reports- also verbally from MR, GW- and as end of module percentage mark

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Time management• Managing your time is an important part of the module

• 10 credit module = 75 hours per group memberWrite as many good papers and reviews as you can…

• Aim for around 10 8 submitted papers since 2007 groups have published between around 6 -> 16 papers. Module marks from around 55% -> 90%

• Workload for a typical groupEach group member will write 2-3 papers (5 to 10 reviews) 75 hour module 2 hrs per review 15-30 hrs per paper

• Submit time management sheet at end of modulephysics -> people/mervynroy/time-management-sheet.xlsx

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Before Friday 1pm1. Sign up for a group – and nominate ONE group contact

2. Download an example paper from mr6 websitephysics -> people/mervynroy/lectures/Groups P1, P2, A1: example paper 1Groups P3, A2, A3: example paper 2Groups P4, P5, A4, A5: example paper 3

3. Imagine you’ve written the paper. Change the author names, and change the title to reflect your group name

4. Submit ‘your’ paper to the Journal – check the website instructions

5. Read the guidelines for referees and for editors - on mr6 website

6. Read all the example papers - how good do you think they are?

On Friday (15:00 room H) we’ll look at reviews and editorial board meetings.

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Referees• Critically appraise the work of your peers

make a judgement on whether or not it should be published

This is one of the most important roles in science!

• Refereeing guidelineswww2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/people/mervynroy/lectures/pst-referees-guide.pdf

• Submitting a reviewphysics.le.ac.uk/journals/index.php/pst -> ABOUT -> GUIDE FOR REFEREES

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Refereeing process

Is the physics at an appropriate level?

Is the physics correct and the paper understandable?

Is the paper free of minor errors?

yes

yes

no

no

yes

no

Resubmit for review, or reject

Revisions required

Publish

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Referees• Reviews should be rigorous, fair, professional – written

politely

• Criticisms should be constructive – can you suggest ways to improve the work?

• Include a brief summary of the work at the start of your report – demonstrates that you have read the paper! And is useful for the authors to see if they have explained things as well as they should.

www2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/people/academic-staff/mr6/lectures/pst-referees-guide.pdf

PST website -> ABOUT -> GUIDE FOR REFEREES

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Editors• Consider referee reports and author correspondence

Have final say on whether or not a paper is published

• Confirm authors have made any minor corrections requested• Distribute papers to referees – spread workload

Process

Are reports very different? – and equally persuasive? Do authors make a compelling written case?

Do referees agree?

Is a compromise solution possible?

Almost always go with recommendation

Go with most negative referee?Third referee /tie-breaker needed?

Discussion / vote at meeting

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Editorial boardEveryone takes a turn on the editorial board – employability!

Board membership – 1 from each group (changes each week). An ‘independent’ chairperson who returns from the previous week’s board. A staff observer (MR, or GW)

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Volunteers as secretary

Chair group AWK 2

Volunteers to return as Chair

Chair group E

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Volunteers as secretary

WK 3

Volunteers to return as Chair

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Board meetings• Guides for editors

Physics -> /people/mervynroy/lectures/pst-editors-guide.pdfphysics.le.ac.uk/journals/index.php/pst -> ABOUT -> GUIDE FOR EDITORS

You must prepare for the board meetings beforehand!

Don’t forget to update the website with a record of your decisions

You must minute the meetings – send a pdf copy to mr6 and each group

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Board meetings• Before the meetingsChair must devise a plan to distribute papers to refereesBoard members must read relevant reports / correspondenceA board member must confirm minor revisions have been completed correctly

• During meetings1. consider new referee reports – update website, email authors with

decisions / instructions.2. confirm minor revisions are OK – update website, notify authors3. assign referees for new papers & resubmissions – update website

• After meetingsemail pdf copy of minutes to mr6 and groups - Example minutes on mr6 website

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Editorial board• How you run the meetings is up to you

but different staff supervisors may offer different advice / input

• Consistency is important role of chairperson, communication between group members

• Board has members from all groups concerned - including authors and referees

this has some big advantages easy resolution of misunderstandingsseeing the process from all sides helps you to write better papers

but there are also some challengesboard members must be ‘fair’

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Weekly deadlines

Submission of articlesThursdays before 1 pm

Submission of referee reports Thursdays before 1pm

Emails to the editor accompanying resubmissionThursdays before 1 pm

Editorial board meetings Fridays from 2pm to 3pm

PA4980 Physics Special Topics Introduction

Key datesQuestion and Answer sessions (before the board meeting)

Friday 24th Oct and Friday 7th Nov 2 pm

Last chance to submit new papersThursday 27th Nov - for penultimate editorial board Friday 28th Nov

Science Communication Session with Dr Sophie Hebden?

PST final editorial boardFriday 5th December - any papers still undergoing review after the final editorial board will count as unpublished

Submission of press release and time management sheetFriday 12th December

Submission of module marks to University Friday January 31st