Scientific writing Publishing in Hydrobiologia Koen Martens (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium)

Scientific writing Scientific writing

Publishing in HydrobiologiaPublishing in Hydrobiologia

Koen MartensKoen Martens

(Royal Belgian Institute of Natural (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium)Sciences, Brussels, Belgium)

I will…I will…

Make this powerpoint available to all Make this powerpoint available to all interestedinterested

I am willing to look at draft manuscripts I am willing to look at draft manuscripts during my stay at this conference (till during my stay at this conference (till Thursday morning)Thursday morning)

“Publish and be damned.”

Arthur Wellesley,1st Duke of Wellington

When the courtesan Harriette Wilson threatened to publish her memoirs and his letters...

“In science, the creditgoes to the man who convinces the world,not the man to whomthe idea first occurs.”

Sir Francis Darwin (1848 - 1925)

The better you write, the more people will take notice

ContentContent

Types of journalsTypes of journals Impact factorsImpact factors Publishing in HydrobiologiaPublishing in Hydrobiologia Some tips for scientific writingSome tips for scientific writing

What level of publication to aim for What level of publication to aim for with primary research papers?with primary research papers?

All good research is All good research is worthwhileworthwhile!! Difference between levels mostly related toDifference between levels mostly related to

– research question : of general or of local research question : of general or of local interestinterest

– descriptive or hypothesis testingdescriptive or hypothesis testing– qualitative or quantitativequalitative or quantitative– with or without replication, statistical analyseswith or without replication, statistical analyses– ……..

Is my paper local, national or Is my paper local, national or international ?international ?

International journals: also several levels International journals: also several levels (examples from the field of aquatic sciences)(examples from the field of aquatic sciences)

1.1. General top level (Science, Nature, PNAS)General top level (Science, Nature, PNAS) Of very wide interest (world press)Of very wide interest (world press) Top research, but especially spectacularTop research, but especially spectacular

New discovery, new method, New discovery, new method, (within) new paradigm(within) new paradigm

Biology, London office: 1/60 weeklyBiology, London office: 1/60 weekly IF= 25-30IF= 25-30


2. General international, intermediate level 2. General international, intermediate level (e.g. Oecologia, L&O, Freshwater Biology,…, (e.g. Oecologia, L&O, Freshwater Biology,…,

Hydrobiologia)Hydrobiologia)– Hypothesis-drivenHypothesis-driven– Required: Required:

Not purely descriptiveNot purely descriptive Including replication, appropriate statistical Including replication, appropriate statistical

analysesanalyses Of more than local/ national interestOf more than local/ national interest Of Of interestinterest for a wide scientific audience for a wide scientific audience


3. More specialised international journals 3. More specialised international journals (Crustaceana, Aquatic Insects)(Crustaceana, Aquatic Insects)

– More rigorous in scope, less difficult regarding More rigorous in scope, less difficult regarding general interestgeneral interest

– Depending on the field, pure descriptive work Depending on the field, pure descriptive work can be acceptedcan be accepted

– For example: For example: pure alpha-taxonomy, pure alpha-taxonomy, 1-year limnological cycles,1-year limnological cycles, 1-parameter models,…1-parameter models,…


National, Museum journalsNational, Museum journals– Eg.: inventories of nature reserves, pure alpha Eg.: inventories of nature reserves, pure alpha

taxonomy, new species for national fauna,…taxonomy, new species for national fauna,…

LocalLocal– Short notes on faunistic or floristic observations, Short notes on faunistic or floristic observations,

general natural history,…general natural history,…

All of these are worthwhile!!!

Same research, different way of Same research, different way of presentingpresenting

Exx: one year cycle of phytoplankton in a lakeExx: one year cycle of phytoplankton in a lake Description, no replica’s, no statistical analyses, only raw Description, no replica’s, no statistical analyses, only raw

data presenteddata presented– National or localNational or local

Replicate sampling, results of statistical analysesReplicate sampling, results of statistical analyses– International specialised journalInternational specialised journal

Hypothesis-testing (eg.: Hutchinsons paradox of plankton), Hypothesis-testing (eg.: Hutchinsons paradox of plankton), multiple lakes, controlled field experimentmultiple lakes, controlled field experiment– International general journals (Hydrobiologia, L&O)International general journals (Hydrobiologia, L&O)

Use of space craft and nuclear reactor: Use of space craft and nuclear reactor: – Nature or Science!Nature or Science!

Why aim for high level publication?Why aim for high level publication?

Higher dissemination, higher impact in scientific Higher dissemination, higher impact in scientific worldworld

Better use of research fundingBetter use of research funding

Senior researchers: Senior researchers: – Higher chances for research fundingHigher chances for research funding

Students: Students: – higher chances to find positionshigher chances to find positions– Responsibility of supervisor!Responsibility of supervisor!

The hierarchy of journals and The hierarchy of journals and publicationspublications

A.A. Journal with peer reviewing, with IFJournal with peer reviewing, with IF• Both national and internationalBoth national and international• Some research institutions require Some research institutions require

• Higher than a particular IF (eg > 2)Higher than a particular IF (eg > 2)• Top 10 or 25% of your particular fieldTop 10 or 25% of your particular field

B.B. Peer review, no IFPeer review, no IF• National, museum journals,…National, museum journals,…

C.C. No peer review, no IFNo peer review, no IF Some local journalsSome local journals Some books, chapters in booksSome books, chapters in books Many webpages!!!Many webpages!!!D.D. Grey literatureGrey literature

• Abstracts for conferences (both oral and poster)Abstracts for conferences (both oral and poster)• Theses, reports,…Theses, reports,…

Other types of papersOther types of papers

OpinionOpinion ReviewsReviews Target papersTarget papers Short research notesShort research notes News and viewsNews and views Book reviews, abstracts,…..Book reviews, abstracts,…..

Excursus: Open Access PublishingExcursus: Open Access Publishing

Traditional way of publishing: Traditional way of publishing: – authors publish in scientific journals, authors publish in scientific journals, – publishers sell these journals to libraries,publishers sell these journals to libraries,– access is limited to subscribing individuals/ institutionsaccess is limited to subscribing individuals/ institutions Libraries pay for accessLibraries pay for access sometimes subscription + page charge…sometimes subscription + page charge…

Traditional publishing at presentTraditional publishing at present– Paper journalsPaper journals– Paper plus electronic access Paper plus electronic access – Electronic access onlyElectronic access only=> All access restricted to subscribers=> All access restricted to subscribers

Open Access PublishingOpen Access Publishing

Open accessOpen access– Authors publish in an electronic journalAuthors publish in an electronic journal– Authors pay for publication costs (> 1500 USD Authors pay for publication costs (> 1500 USD

per accepted manuscript, depending on journal)per accepted manuscript, depending on journal)– OR: member institutes pay a fee OR: member institutes pay a fee – Electronic journal is open access => no Electronic journal is open access => no

subscription restrictionssubscription restrictions

Costs shift from Library => Author


– Sounded like a good Sounded like a good idea initiallyidea initially > 400 institutions > 400 institutions

became member of BMC became member of BMC = BioMed Central = = BioMed Central = major open access major open access publisher with 100s of publisher with 100s of journalsjournals

PLOS = Public Library of PLOS = Public Library of ScienceScience

– Large movement of Large movement of cancellation of cancellation of traditional journals traditional journals

Open Access research article publications

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2000 2001 2002 2003

Source: Matt Cockerill, BMC


http://www.soros.org/openhttp://www.soros.org/openaccess/access/

Budapest Open Access Budapest Open Access Initiative 2001Initiative 2001

Since then, little more than Since then, little more than 5000 signatures have 5000 signatures have been added to the petitionbeen added to the petition

Yale University withdrew Yale University withdrew its membership from BMC, its membership from BMC, others will follow:others will follow:– Too expensiveToo expensive

Example: Example: – 1 journal costs 8000 USD/ yr 1 journal costs 8000 USD/ yr

to the libraryto the library– 10 authors publish in open 10 authors publish in open

access journal: It will cost access journal: It will cost 15,000 USD15,000 USD

– In addition, cost is In addition, cost is unpredictable per year…unpredictable per year…

http://www.soros.org/openaccess/

http://www.soros.org/openaccess/


PROPRO Unlimited access of all Unlimited access of all

papers to the scientific papers to the scientific communitycommunity

Allows for full text Allows for full text miningmining

CONTRACONTRA Will not reduce costsWill not reduce costs Scientific community Scientific community

continues to paycontinues to pay Apparently does not Apparently does not

reach all that much reach all that much larger an audiencelarger an audience

Subscription model or open access model ?The future will tell….=> Scientific publishing market is very volatile ….

ContentContent


Impact FactorsImpact Factors

Institute for Scientific InformationInstitute for Scientific Information

Eugen Garfield

The tyranny of the Impact Factors: The tyranny of the Impact Factors: Thomson ScientificThomson Scientific

(formerly ISI)(formerly ISI)

Database with references & citations from Database with references & citations from 1000’s of journals1000’s of journals– Inclusion of journal = Subjective decision by ISIInclusion of journal = Subjective decision by ISI

ProductsProducts– (Current Contents)(Current Contents)– Web of Science, Web of KnowledgeWeb of Science, Web of Knowledge

Journal CitationJournal Citation– Impact Factors, Immediacy Index, …Impact Factors, Immediacy Index, …

Cites in 2007 to articles published

in: 2006 = 525

Number of articles published in: 2006 = 602

2005 = 753 2005 = 462

Sum: 1278 Sum: 1064

Calculation:

Cites to recent articles 1278 = 1.201 Number of recent articles 1064

Impact Factor 2007 Hydrobiologia

Evolution of Impact Factor Hydrobiologia

Five year trend of change of IF

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Aquatic Sciences

Archiv fürHydrobiologie

Estuaries

FEMS MicrobialEcology

Freshwater Biology

Hydrobiologia

Internat. Revue derGes. Hydrobiol.

J. North Am.Benthol. Soc.

Marine Biology

L&O

Plankton Research

Over 5 year trend of change of IF

Impact Impact FactorsFactors

Asked on several occasions that Thomson scientific would provide the primary files used to calculate IFs=> T.S. failed to provide the exact data

High impact factors for …High impact factors for …

Very Very badbad papers! papers! Papers describing new Papers describing new methodologymethodology ReviewReview papers papers OpinionOpinion papers papers Papers in Papers in journalsjournals

– With fast publication With fast publication – Which are widely available AND widely readWhich are widely available AND widely read

Electronic, web-based journalsElectronic, web-based journals

– Attracting high level authorsAttracting high level authors– ……..

Impact factors are unscientificImpact factors are unscientific

– TREE: IF cannot be used to compareTREE: IF cannot be used to compare Disciplines, Disciplines, Institutes, Institutes, Individual Researchers,….Individual Researchers,….

– Garfield Eugene 2005Garfield Eugene 2005 50% of papers in ISI database never gets cited50% of papers in ISI database never gets cited 0nly 0.1% of papers > 200 citations0nly 0.1% of papers > 200 citations

– IF = journal, not IF = journal, not Individual paperIndividual paper Individual scientistsIndividual scientists=> yet, IF are used to evaluate individual scientists, departments, => yet, IF are used to evaluate individual scientists, departments,

etc….etc….

The h - factorThe h - factor

Definition: A scientist has index Definition: A scientist has index h h if if h h of his of his or her or her Np Np papers have at least papers have at least h h citations citations each each

The highest h-factor for physics was that of The highest h-factor for physics was that of E. Witten (h= 110). This means Witten has E. Witten (h= 110). This means Witten has 110 papers that are cited 110 times or 110 papers that are cited 110 times or more…more…

An index to quantify an individual’s scientificresearch outputJ. E. Hirsch, 2005: PNAS 102 (46): 16569–16572

Fig. 2. Histogram giving the number of Nobel prize recipients in physics inthe last 20 years versus their h index. The peak is at the h index between 35and 39. (Hirsch, 2005)

ContentContent


HydrobiologiaHydrobiologia •21 volumes annually (c 11 specials)

•> 5300 pages, c 500 papers / yr

• The aquatic library

• submission > 1200 mss / yr

• acceptance regular papers = c 25%

• 200 out of c 800 submissions

• IF : 0.653 (2004) => 1.201 (2007)

• I am EiC since Sept 2003 (with vol. 500) when I took

over from Henri Dumont (23 years!!!)

• we just published volume 610

Hydrobiologia is in a very competitive market!!!

Editorial PolicyEditorial Policy

More focus on scope: More focus on scope: Biology of aquatic habitats and biotaBiology of aquatic habitats and biota– No pure ecotoxicology, biochemistry,…No pure ecotoxicology, biochemistry,…– Less strict for special issues, but show relevance of work for Less strict for special issues, but show relevance of work for

aquatic communitiesaquatic communities Trying to reach a wider audience: Trying to reach a wider audience: Writing for a wide, Writing for a wide,

international audience, high scientific standardinternational audience, high scientific standard– Not purely descriptive (taxonomy, ecology, limnology)Not purely descriptive (taxonomy, ecology, limnology)– Dealing with general biological questionDealing with general biological question– Quantitative/ statistical analysesQuantitative/ statistical analyses

Be respected by that audience: Be respected by that audience: High technical standardsHigh technical standards– LanguageLanguage– Figures and tablesFigures and tables

Hydrobiologia publishes taxonomy!!!Hydrobiologia publishes taxonomy!!!

Descriptive part OK, no page limitationDescriptive part OK, no page limitation– But of course: as concise as possibleBut of course: as concise as possible

But USE your new data!But USE your new data!– Quantitative phylogenetic analysesQuantitative phylogenetic analyses– Quantitative biogeographical analysesQuantitative biogeographical analyses– Molecular vs morphological dataMolecular vs morphological data– Quantitative morphological comparisonsQuantitative morphological comparisons– ……

=> Similar approach to ecological/ limnological papers=> Similar approach to ecological/ limnological papers

Your proceedings in Hydrobiologia?Your proceedings in Hydrobiologia?

Why an A-level journal for proceedings?Why an A-level journal for proceedings? Book has no IFBook has no IF=> Student in early stage of career MUST publish with IF=> Student in early stage of career MUST publish with IF Papers are rejected for journal, so no complete proceedings.Papers are rejected for journal, so no complete proceedings.=> Books will also not give complete overview=> Books will also not give complete overview– Also outreach to scientific community OUTSIDE of CopepodaAlso outreach to scientific community OUTSIDE of Copepoda

Why Hydrobiologia?Why Hydrobiologia?– Tradition for copepod volumesTradition for copepod volumes– Hydro (still) takes organism-based proceedingsHydro (still) takes organism-based proceedings– IF on the riseIF on the rise

What are Developments in Hydrobiology?What are Developments in Hydrobiology?– Hard cover spin off series of HydrobiologiaHard cover spin off series of Hydrobiologia– COULD include also papers rejected for Hydrobiologia…COULD include also papers rejected for Hydrobiologia…

ContentContent


http://www.springeronline.com/sgw/cda/frontpage/0,11855,4-10122-22-1516327-0,00.html

Rule 1Rule 1

ONE PAPER,ONE PAPER,

ONE STORY!!!ONE STORY!!!

Rule 2Rule 2

KEEP IT SIMPLEKEEP IT SIMPLE “All big things have little names, such as life and

death, peace and war, or dawn, day, night, love, home. Learn to use little words in a big way - It is hard to do. But they say what you mean.

When you don’t know what you mean, use big words: They often fool little people.”

Rule 3Rule 3

USE CORRECT USE CORRECT LANGUAGELANGUAGEAsk a native English speaking colleague to help you..

Organisation of a Organisation of a primary research paperprimary research paper

introduced by American National Standards Institute in 1979

Organisation of a Organisation of a primary research paper: primary research paper:

IMRADIMRAD INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

– What did you do? Why did you do it?What did you do? Why did you do it?

MATERIAL AND METHODSMATERIAL AND METHODS– How did you do it?How did you do it?

RESULTS RESULTS – What did you find?What did you find?

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION– What does it mean ?What does it mean ?

(CONCLUSIONS)(CONCLUSIONS)

Never mix Results and Discussion in one section !!!


Title (page)Title (page) AbstractAbstract IntroductionIntroduction Material and methodsMaterial and methods ResultsResults Discussion Discussion (Conclusions)(Conclusions) AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements ReferencesReferences Tables and Figures, including captionsTables and Figures, including captions (Appendices)(Appendices)


TitleTitle AbstractAbstract IntroductionIntroduction Material and methodsMaterial and methods ResultsResults Discussion Discussion (Conclusions)(Conclusions) AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements ReferencesReferences Tables and Figures, including captionsTables and Figures, including captions (Appendices)(Appendices)

Title and abstract are often the only items that your peers will read:make them attractive…

How to choose a title?How to choose a title?

Correct and conciseCorrect and concise– ““Absence of allelic Absence of allelic

divergence shows that divergence shows that there is no Meselson there is no Meselson effect in an ancient effect in an ancient asexual ostracod”asexual ostracod”

CatchyCatchy– ““No slave to sex”No slave to sex”

First impressions are powerful: First impressions are powerful: make them count!make them count!

Two approaches to attract attention


Catchy title, but not very informative as to content If you like to reach a wide audience Some of your colleagues will NOT like this sort of TV advertisement…


““Studies Studies on….”on….” ““Characterisation Characterisation of ….”of ….” ““Observations Observations on….”on….” ““Investigations Investigations into….”into….”

Too descriptive, not catchy, not ….Too descriptive, not catchy, not ….

“If you are unable to think of a specific biological question which your study might begin to address, it may be time to consider an alternative career…..”

(Martin Welch)

AbstractAbstract

Must HAVE content: NOT “these results are Must HAVE content: NOT “these results are discussed”discussed”

1.1. Research question, hypothesis to be tested, general Research question, hypothesis to be tested, general contextcontext

2.2. Major methodologiesMajor methodologies3.3. Major results (no raw data!)Major results (no raw data!)4.4. Major significance of these results (for example: Major significance of these results (for example:

hypothesis rejected or not)hypothesis rejected or not)

=> In some journals, these sections are numbered=> In some journals, these sections are numbered

Material and MethodsMaterial and Methods

Watch how you write things…Watch how you write things…– “After standing in boiling water for an hour, I loaded the sample on

a gel…..” Ouch.

– “The sample was kept at room temperature…” In London or Pataya ????In London or Pataya ????

– “Blood samples were taken from 48 informed and consenting patients….. the subjects ranged in age from 6 months to 22 years.” (Pediatr. Res. 6:26 (1972))

Clever kids!Clever kids!

Give exact origin of chemicals, biological materials …Give exact origin of chemicals, biological materials … Use SI units throughoutUse SI units throughout

The hardest rule of all…The hardest rule of all…

Do not put results in “material and methods”Do not put results in “material and methods” Do not put results in “discussion”Do not put results in “discussion” Do not describe methods in “results”Do not describe methods in “results” Do not describe methods in “discussion”Do not describe methods in “discussion” Do not discuss results in “material and Do not discuss results in “material and

methods”methods” Do not discuss results in “results”Do not discuss results in “results”

Results: how not to do it…Results: how not to do it…

“In this experiment, one third of the mice were cured by the test drug, one third were

unaffected by the drug and remained moribund, and the third mouse got away.”

(Reputedly from a MS submitted

to Infection and Immunity)

Moribund = in the state of dying

DiscussionDiscussion

The “squid technique”…. Here, the author, doubtful about his facts or reasoning, retreats behind a protective cloud of ink.

Probably the easiest section to write, but the hardest section to get right…

RefereeingRefereeing

Editors send ms to referees (usually >= 2)Editors send ms to referees (usually >= 2) Peer reviewPeer review

– Peers = your colleaguesPeers = your colleagues Suitability for specific journalSuitability for specific journal Scientific contentScientific content Technical quality (English, figures,…)Technical quality (English, figures,…)

RefereeingRefereeing

Rejection is a fact of life..Rejection is a fact of life.. Editors judge individual manuscripts, NOT Editors judge individual manuscripts, NOT

personal standing, careers, …personal standing, careers, … Referees try to help authors free of chargeReferees try to help authors free of charge

=> Please respond respectfully=> Please respond respectfully

ConclusionsConclusions

One paper = one storyOne paper = one story Use simple words and phrasesUse simple words and phrases Use correct EnglishUse correct English Not purely descriptiveNot purely descriptive For wide, international audienceFor wide, international audience Use correct structure of manuscript Use correct structure of manuscript

– guidelines of journalguidelines of journal– IMRADIMRAD

Pay attention to Title and Abstract!Pay attention to Title and Abstract!

Welco

me to

Hydro

biologia!

Documents

Scientific writing Publishing in Hydrobiologia Koen Martens (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium)