Vol. 3 No. 1 (2008)
Issue Description

The word “author” is derived from the Latin verb augere, which means to increase and enrich. The author, then, is one who expands on previous thoughts and ideas. Interestingly, the same Latin root also give rise to the word “authority”, thereby conferring upon authors a responsibility for their published material.

In scientific writing, this responsibility includes the importance of designing replicable experiments and engaging in thorough data analysis. However, it is not, and indeed must not be, limited only to the methodological features of the empirical study.

Scientific knowledge travels outside specific disciplines to innervate many different fields and hence, the scientific author stands accountable to a wide audience. The scholarly manuscript acts as a vehicle for the transmission of ideas within and between disciplines and, should therefore be clear, effective, and accessible to the uninitiated.

Writing about science is just another facet of practicing science. The rigor and acumen that guided the empirical work should be mirrored in both the substance and the form of a manuscript. As early as 1667, a guide to scientific writing, published by the Royal Society, Britain’s oldest scientific society, cautioned against an impenetrable style of writing. Its author famously suggested abandoning the jargon of scholars to favour the vernacular language of craftsmen, farmers, and merchants. The notion of a hermetic science, one that is accessible and accountable only to itself, disrupts the very purpose of scientific communication. The density of writing is neither an indicator of the complexity of a concept nor of the sophistication of its analysis.


This journal is a venture in the world of eff ective science writing. We not only encourage our contributors to write engaging and non-technical articles – we require it. Our rigorous editorial process strives to be a true experience in scientific writing and serves as a training ground for undergraduates writing academic articles.


Ultimately, we hope to facilitate cooperation among disciplines, and inspire student involvement in the development and dissemination of knowledge.


Arij Riahi
Editor-in-chief
BSc 08, Anatomy & Cell Biology

 

On the Cover:

Designed by DEBBIE GELTNER

The cover displays the famous 1982 scanning electron microscopy image of plasma cells (Photographers Bruce Wetzel/Harry Schaefer, courtesy National Cancer Insti- tute). A black and white representation of a stabilized dispersion (United States Patent 6946117) shows perforated microstructures suspended in a chemical medium. This system allows the delivery and dispersion of pharmacological agents in the respiratory track.

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