Submissions

Short Story

Storytelling is an engaging framework used for knowledge dissemination, portrayal of a feeling or a  memory, reflection on events, and/or delivering a message or a lesson. Examples of genres may  include but are not limited to personal anecdotes, sci-fi, fairy tales, and nonfiction. There is no  criteria for the selection of topics for the stories, as the scope of the journal is kept eminently broad.  The following guidelines outline the structure and format for submitting a story to SciWise.  

Title page 

❏ Please utilize this template to record the logistical information of your publication  including the submission title and the information of all authors/illustrators of the piece.

Illustration(s) 

❏ If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit those in digital format, in  the original file (ex. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable. In this case, the author  will be contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the  artwork.  

❏ If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss the production and composition of  illustrations.  

❏ Alternatively, the author may include a message along with their written submission  outlining in detail what they wish to see as an accompanying art piece. 

❏ To respect the integrity of the work our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask  that no more than two rounds of modifications will be made to the proposed illustration.  

Word Count 

❏ Stories are short pieces of literature, ranging from 1000-2000 words. If the author  argues that a greater word count is more suitable for their submission, the Senior Editor  may grant permission for extra 250 words.  

Structure/Format 

❏ A story should contain the hook statement, characters and their setting, the rising action,  the conflict, the falling action, and the resolution. The structure of this submission type  asks to be flexible, however. Importantly, the story must be engaging and avoid or explain  any jargon terms.  

❏ Stories may be fictional or non-fictional. A fictional story entails an imaginary plot,  characters, or setting. In contrast, non-fiction refers to stories with real characters and  based on a true scenario. At times, there may be nuances that will blur the difference  between fiction and non-fiction, in which case the author will either be asked to confide  to a specific type, or the submission will be automatically classified as fiction.  

❏ Stories may be written in first, second, or third person narratives.

References 

❏ References are to be done in Vancouver format. No in-text citations are required.

Acknowledgements 

❏ The author will be asked to include an acknowledgements section accompanying the  main written piece. This section could be used to describe sources of inspiration,  acknowledgement of assistance or funding received by the author. If this section is not  included, SciWise’s standard text will be used in place.

Poem

The goal of a scientific poem is to use rhythm, symbolism and other literary devices to capture an  experience or a phenomenon with metaphorical language. The following guidelines outline the  structure and format for submitting a poem to SciWise.  

Title page 

❏ Please utilize this template to record the logistical information of your publication  including the submission title and the information of all authors/illustrators of the piece. 

Illustration(s) 

❏ If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit those in digital format, in  the original file (ex. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable. In this case, the author  will be contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the  artwork.  

❏ If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss the production and composition of  illustrations.  

❏ Alternatively, the author may include a message along with their written submission  outlining in detail what they wish to see as an accompanying art piece.  

❏ To respect the integrity of work that our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask  that no more than two rounds of modifications will be made to the proposed illustration.  

Word count 

❏ Poems can vary in length but are typically short and range between 50-100 words. If the  author argues that a greater word count is more suitable for their submission, the Senior  Editor may grant permission for an additional 50 words. 

Structure/Format 

❏ The structure of a poem depends on the type and is rather flexible (sonnet, limerick,  haiku, narrative, epic, couplet, acoustic, or free verse among others). However, poems  still have a clear goal and theme (to evoke emotions, to educate the reader, to explain).  

❏ Poems should target a large and diverse audience. Acknowledging that poetry is often  sentimental and may include controversial topics, ensure to exclude offensive language  and tone in your writing as this may subject your submission to an automatic rejection  after being reviewed.

References 

❏ References are to be done in Vancouver format. No in-text citations are required.  

Acknowledgements 

❏ The author will be asked to include an acknowledgements section accompanying the  main written piece. This section could be used to describe sources of inspiration,  acknowledgement of assistance or funding received by the author. If this section is not  included, SciWise’s standard text will be used in place.  

Scientific Art

Original artwork with a scientific theme may be submitted, along with a brief description of the piece by the author. This description may include, but is not limited to, the inspiration for the piece, what it depicts, and how it is meaningful to the author.

Please include your instagram and facebook handles when submitting your piece so that you can be tagged. 

Word count

❏ Word limit for description: 100 words

Comic

Comics convey a story using a visual timeline and minimal text. The following guidelines outline the  structure and format for submitting a comic to SciWise.  

Title page 

❏ Please utilize this template to record the logistical information of your publication  including the submission title and the information of all authors/illustrators of the piece.

Illustration(s) 

❏ If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit those in digital format, in  the original file (ex. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable. In this case, the author  will be contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the  artwork.  

❏ If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss the production and composition of  illustrations.  

❏ Alternatively, the author may include a message along with their written submission  outlining in detail what they wish to see as an accompanying art piece.  

❏ To respect the integrity of the work our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask  that no more than two rounds of modifications will be made to the proposed illustration.  

Word count 

❏ There is no word count for a comic. However, the comic must contain as little text as  possible. Submissions that are text-heavy may be rejected. If you would like to confirm  before making a submission, please send a draft to sciwisemcmaster@gmail.com.

Structure/Format 

❏ Comics can be drawn in black and white, greyscale or colour. The comic usually conveys  a story through the use of a main character and a plot, however, any abstract ideas are  also accepted for submission. The dialogue between characters or any character  thoughts or reactions should be contained in speech bubbles. The images should be  cohesive and should contain a narrative that is easy to follow. Also consider how you will  include scientific information in your comic. Perhaps you will portray a researcher in their  feat of a new discovery, or a virus overtaking a human population. 

❏ Non-fiction and fictional comics are accepted, with no restrictions on genres and tone.

❏ A typical comic strip is 4” tall and 13” wide. Please refer to the example in the SciWise Manual. However,  there is some flexibility to this requirement. For example, two boxes can be merged or a  double strip (i.e. 8 boxes total) can also be used. Please contact us to confirm an  alternative format. 

❏ The first box can be used as a title for your comic. 

References 

❏ References are to be done in Vancouver format. No in-text citations are required. 

Acknowledgements 

❏ The author will be asked to include an acknowledgements section accompanying the  main written piece. This section could be used to describe sources of inspiration,  acknowledgement of assistance or funding received by the author. If this section is not  included, SciWise’s standard text will be used in place.  

News Report

The purpose of a news report is to inform a reader about recent and trending events happening  around them. The following guidelines outline the structure and format for submitting a news  report to SciWise. 

Title page 

❏ Please utilize this template to record the logistical information of your publication  including the submission title and the information of all authors/illustrators of the piece. Illustration(s) 

❏ If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit those in digital format, in  the original file (ex. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable. In this case, the author  will be contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the  artwork.  

❏ If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss the production and composition of  illustrations. 

❏ Alternatively, the author may include a message along with their written submission  outlining in detail what they wish to see as an accompanying art piece.  

❏ To respect the integrity of the work our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask  that no more than two rounds of modifications will be made to the proposed illustration. 

Word count 

❏ News articles must be concise and use factual information about current events  happening in the community or around the world. They may contain 250-500 words.  However, if the author argues that a greater word count is more suitable for their  submission, the Senior Editor may grant permission for an additional 50 words. 

Structure/Format  

❏ The title of the news article must be descriptive and appealing being no longer than 10  words in length. 

❏ News articles are designed to educate the reader about current events happening  around them within the last three months. This form of writing must utilize factual  information and must have a scientific basis. 

❏ The headline is used to catch the attention of the reader and makes the news article  relevant to a diverse audience. The following paragraphs usually contain the five ‘W’s’  (who, what, where, when, why) and ‘how’ of your topic. Finally, the news article typically  ends with a concluding paragraph to reiterate the importance of the topic and provides  an overall takeaway statement for the reader. 

References 

❏ References are to be done in Vancouver format.  

Acknowledgements 

❏ The author will be asked to include an acknowledgements section accompanying the  main written piece. This section could be used to describe sources of inspiration,  acknowledgement of assistance or funding received by the author. If this section is not  included, SciWise’s standard text will be used in place. 

Opinion Piece

An opinion piece allows one to convey their thoughts, perspectives and vision in a rational manner,  with evidence-based reasoning. Although written for the purposes of conveying one’s opinion, it  may expose the author to other perspectives and thought processes, reflected in the written piece;  this allows the author and reader to develop a better sense of the biases we carry, and acknowledge  them. The following guidelines outline the structure and format for submitting an opinion piece to  SciWise: 

Title page 

❏ Please utilize this template to record the logistical information of your publication  including the submission title and the information of all authors/illustrators of the piece.

Illustration(s) 

❏ If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit those in digital format, in  the original file (ex. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable. In this case, the author  will be contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the  artwork.  

❏ If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss the production and composition of  illustrations.  

❏ Alternatively, the author may include a message along with their written submission  outlining in detail what they wish to see as an accompanying art piece.  

❏ To respect the integrity of the work our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask  that no more than two rounds of modifications will be made to the proposed illustration.  

Word Count  

❏ An opinion piece requires strong arguments along with supporting evidence. Authors will  require detailed arguments to support their thoughts and perspectives, thus this type of  submission is kept at a minimum of 800 to a maximum of 1000 words. This is negotiable  by 150 words upon consultation with a Senior Editor.  

Structure/Format  

❏ The title of the piece should either be written as a question that is answered in the body  of the piece, or as a statement reflecting the author’s opinion on the matter.

 ❏ An opinion piece should include an introduction to the relevant topic(s) that is engaging  to the audience and provides an adequate background. Concluding the introductory  paragraph, the author will firmly state their opinion which will be discussed and  supported by evidence in the subsequent paragraphs. Arguments must be logically valid  and supported by recent evidence. The work should be concluded by highlighting the  importance of the topic by retouching on points stated in the body and restatement of  the author’s opinion. 

❏ The language used within the opinion piece should reflect our open, diverse and  welcoming community. As such, authors should ensure no harsh or offensive language is  used and should be aware of the arguments behind the opposite perspective. 

❏ The scope of opinion pieces is kept broad, however, elements of humanities and science  must be encompassed within the submission. Perhaps, an author may choose to discuss  gender bias in scientific disciplines or discuss the gravity and ethics of social isolation in  correctional facilities on the human mind. 

References 

❏ References are to be done in Vancouver format.  

Acknowledgements 

❏ The author will be asked to include an acknowledgements section accompanying the  main written piece. This section could be used to describe sources of inspiration,  acknowledgement of assistance or funding received by the author. It is encouraged to describe the personal circumstances that motivated the formulation of an opinion. If this  section is not included, SciWise’s standard text will be used in place.  

Interview (Question-Answer Format)

Interviews allow a personal insight into the innovative research conducted at McMaster University  or in collaboration with the community. They also play an integral part in introducing such efforts  and topics to the general public. The following guidelines outline the structure and format for  submitting an interview to SciWise:  

Interviews can be written in one of two formats: a question-answer format or a narrative format. Regardless of the format chosen, we encourage authors to submit interview questions to SciWise prior to conducting the interview to ensure it meets the interdisciplinary scope of the journal. Authors are expected to show the interviewee the interview after the first round of edits, in order to give them the opportunity to check that the piece captures their message.

Question- Answer Format

Title page 

❏ Please utilize this template to record the logistical information of your publication  including the submission title and the information of all authors/illustrators of the piece. 

❏ Please ensure that the name of the interview, their affiliation, and educational level (if  applicable) is filled out in the template. 

Illustration(s) 

❏ If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit those in digital format, in  the original file (ex. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable. In this case, the author  will be contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the  artwork.  

❏ If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss the production and composition of  illustrations.  

❏ Alternatively, the author may include a message along with their written submission  outlining in detail what they wish to see as an accompanying art piece.  

❏ To respect the integrity of the work our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask  that no more than two rounds of modifications will be made to the proposed illustration.  

Word Count  

❏ An interview should include 6 questions for which a thorough response is expected.  Please encourage the interviewee to elaborate on their answer. Do not use ‘yes/no’  questions.  

❏ The interview piece should include an abstract (150 words max.) and a biography of the  interviewee (150 words max.).  

Structure/Format  

❏ The biography of the interviewee should address the interviewee’s affiliations, area of  expertise or role within the community and a one sentence description of their current  work. The abstract should brief the reader about the project or community/community  service and their mission. Thus, the abstract should reflect on the significance of the work  conducted by the interviewee.  

❏ The interview can be conducted with faculty members and students at McMaster or  members of the community about research (academic or community-based) or science related events within the Hamilton community. Examples of interviewees may include but are not limited to professors outside of the Faculty of Sciences who teach science based courses (ex. Classics 3MT3), health lawyers, Environment Canada government  officials, and others. Please ensure that your submission has an overarching scientific  theme (i.e. public health and wellbeing, environmental sciences, social sciences).  

❏ The questions should focus on the project’s planning and findings. It should consider  challenges, limitations, or information about the researcher's career and work.  Questions for the community members should focus on events, positive aspects (i.e.  highlighting the positive things within the community), and/or, challenges, within the  community and potential solutions.  

❏ To ensure your interview meets the interdisciplinary scope of the journal, we encourage  authors to submit interview questions to SciWise prior to conducting the interview.  

References 

❏ References are to be done in Vancouver format. No in-text citations are required. 

Acknowledgements  

❏ The author will be asked to include an acknowledgements section accompanying the  main written piece. This section could be used to describe sources of inspiration,  acknowledgement of assistance or funding received by the author. If this section is not  included, SciWise’s standard text will be used in place.  

Interview (Narrative)

Interviews allow a personal insight into the innovative research conducted at McMaster University  or in collaboration with the community. They also play an integral part in introducing such efforts  and topics to the general public. The following guidelines outline the structure and format for  submitting an interview to SciWise:  

Interviews can be written in one of two formats: a question-answer format or a narrative format. Regardless of the format chosen, we encourage authors to submit interview questions to SciWise prior to conducting the interview to ensure it meets the interdisciplinary scope of the journal. Authors are expected to show the interviewee the interview after the first round of edits, in order to give them the opportunity to check that the piece captures their message.

Narrative Interview

Title page 

❏ Please utilize this template to record the logistical information of your publication  including the submission title and the information of all authors/illustrators of the piece. 

❏ Please ensure that the name of the interview, their affiliation, and educational level (if  applicable) is filled out in the template

Illustration(s) 

❏ If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit those in digital format, in  the original file (ex. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable. In this case, the author  will be contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the  artwork.  

❏ If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss the production and composition of  illustrations.  

❏ Alternatively, the author may include a message along with their written submission  outlining in detail what they wish to see as an accompanying art piece.  

❏ To respect the integrity of the work our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask  that no more than two rounds of modifications will be made to the proposed illustration.  

Word Count

❏ Word limit: 1000 words. This is negotiable by 150 words upon consultation with a Senior Editor. 

Structure/Format

This will take the form of a third person article describing the answers to the questions. There will be no abstract or biography, but the interviewer is encouraged to include biographical elements in the narrative.

References 

❏ References are to be done in Vancouver format. No in-text citations are required. 

Acknowledgements  

❏ The author will be asked to include an acknowledgements section accompanying the main written piece. This section could be used to describe sources of inspiration,  acknowledgement of assistance or funding received by the author. If this section is not  included, SciWise’s standard text will be used in place.

Innovative Idea Proposal

We recognize that students at McMaster are future community leaders. This submission type is a distinct and flexible category that allows students to report on emerging community concerns and  raise awareness on issues that require attention. Here, the author will pitch a proposal that could  benefit a particular community or community service within Canada. The proposal should entail  scientific elements and/or awareness of scientific concepts that may be involved. For instance, offering an education programme for family and friends of individuals affected by mental illness  requires knowledge of basic etiology of the given disorder. Please note, this submission does not accommodate scientific research project proposals. The following guidelines outline the structure  and format for submitting a proposal/pitch to SciWise:  

Title page 

❏ Please utilize this template to record the logistical information of your publication  including the submission title and the information of all authors/illustrators of the piece.

❏ Please ensure that the targeted community (of your pitch) is stated and filled out in the  template form. 

Illustration(s) 

❏ If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit those in digital format, in  the original file (ex. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable. In this case, the author  will be contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the  artwork. 

❏ If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise immediately to arrange a meeting to discuss the production and composition of  illustrations.  

❏ Alternatively, the author may include a message along with their written submission  outlining in detail what they wish to see as an accompanying art piece.  

❏ To respect the integrity of the work our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask  that no more than two rounds of modifications will be made to the proposed illustration.  

        Word Count  

❏ Appreciating that students at McMaster are community-oriented and that proposals  entail thoughtful, careful, and detailed planning, the word count for this type of  submission is kept at a minimum of 800 and a maximum of 1200 words. This is negotiable  by 150 words upon consultation with a Senior Editor.  

Structure/Format  

❏ A proposal/pitch should contain three main sections: background, proposal, and  limitations. The piece will commence with background information pertaining to the  community/community service and identification of the problem tackled by the project.  The subsequent section should outline the solution and plan for its execution, featuring  any required resources, any stakeholder, and a rough, tentative timeline. The final section should list and elaborate on limiting steps towards the achievement of the project  incentives and identify whether the limitations could or could not be overcome with  proposed efforts.  

❏ If any prior steps have been taken towards the initiation of the project, this could be outlined in an additional section. 

❏ Note, that SciWise does not fund or provide any resources for the completion of the  project, however, we work towards developing outreach strategies to potentially  connect the author of the proposal with other students, community partners, and faculty  members at McMaster University. 

References 

❏ References are to be done in APA format.  

Acknowledgements 

❏ The author will be asked to include an acknowledgements section accompanying the  main written piece. This section could be used to describe sources of inspiration, acknowledgement of assistance or funding received by the author. If this section is not included, SciWise’s standard text will be used in place. 

Research Manuscript

The purpose of a research manuscript is to present any primary research conducted by a McMaster faculty member. The research must be your own and all participants must authorize the publishing.

Title Page:
• Please use this template to record the logistical details of your publication, including the
submission title and information about all authors/illustrators of the piece.

Illustration(s):
• If the submission has accompanying illustrations, please submit them in digital format in the
original file (e.g. Photoshop). Not all formats will be acceptable; in this case, the author will be
contacted immediately, and a plan of action will be formulated to incorporate the artwork.
• If the submission has no accompanying art piece, the author must contact SciWise to arrange a
meeting to discuss the production and composition of illustrations. Alternatively, the author may
include a message along with their written submission outlining what they wish to see as an
accompanying art piece or indicating that they wish to leave it open to the imagination of the

Illustrative team.
• To respect the integrity of the work our Designers dedicate to your submission, we ask that no
more than two rounds of modifications be made to the proposed illustration.

Word Count:
• Research manuscript must be concise and only include relevant information. They must contain a
maximum of 1000 words.

Structure/Format:
• Research manuscripts have a very strict structure, guidelines found below:

Title: short and engaging

Author names: listed in format (Last name, First name), based on contribution. If equal
contribution, then listed alphabetically.

Introduction (150-300 words): A concise and clear description of the relevant background of
your study. The research question and hypothesis included at the end.

Methods (100-200 words): Description of how data was collected, diagrams can be included if
needed.

Results (100-200 words): state the results of your experiment, with figures and describe them.
Include statistical tests (ex: t-test, statistical significance, etc). Include figure captions that state
the sample size, as well as biological and technical replicates, if applicable)

Discussion (150-300 words): This section should link your results back to your research
question. You should explain how/whether your findings fit with current knowledge and present
why the findings are important. Include appropriate next steps stemming from your findings.

References:
• References are to be submitted in the APA 7 format. In-text citations in the APA 7 format
(superscripts) are required.