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General |
JCOM is an open access journal serving the science communication community. The Journal does not apply any article processing or submission charge.
The field of public communication of science and technology has grown rapidly over the past 20 years with increasing professionalisation amongst practitioners and a growth in academic interest in the field. JCOM seeks to provide a space which brings together scholars and practitioners, enabling discussion of issue of interest to both communities.
Why "science communication"? Because we want to challenge and enter into dialogue with the social studies of science and science and technology studies communities, as well as reach practitioners involved in a wide range of communication activities related to science and technology. The Journal publishes work that explores the importance of communicative processes to the development of science as well as studies exploring the dynamics of contemporary knowledge societies. We chose this privileged point of view even though we know that we are still looking for deep theoretical reflection, strong methodological tools and a clear identity. JCOM seeks to contribute to the development of the field and creation of its identity by adopting a model that promotes the free circulation of information and non-eurocentric perspectives, encompassing heterogeneous visions such as gender studies, social history, action-research. Furthermore, JCOM is a platform where distant communities can meet: academic scholars, journalists, museum operators, and scientists who live and work in fields where theoretical reflection and concrete action are strongly intertwined.
So JCOM investigates the needs for communication between science and citizens and within the scientific community itself; the problems that are to be faced when models for theoretical analysis or practical means to popularize science are used; the changing relation between science and social institutions; and the informative, pedagogical, interpretative and political dimensions of science communication.
Scope |
JCOM - Journal of Science Communication - welcomes contributions for publication at any time. We invite submissions on topics related to science communication, including original research, theoretical reflections, case studies of best practice and evaluations. The Journal is aimed at researchers, educators, trainers and professional and occasional practitioners in science communication. Contributors should bear in mind the breadth of this target audience in writing papers intended for publication in JCOM.
We take a broad view of science communication, encompassing, for example, popular science publishing, science in information and entertainment forms of media, public demonstrations and discussions of science, mediations between scientific and other social institutions, science museums and centres, science journalism and science information services.
JCOM has a global remit and we invite submissions from all parts of the world, and concerning all parts of the world. We also seek to encourage new scholarship and new perspectives; we welcome submissions from prospective contributors who are at early stages in their careers and seeking to build up a portfolio of published work.
Editorial policy |
Original research and theoretical contributions should be substantial and significant in content and we welcome papers that challenge existing theory or practice or seek to move the field forward. Papers must address one or more of the subject areas covered by JCOM. The criteria for acceptance are originality and contribution to the field and length should be appropriate to the information presented. Research and theoretical contributions judged to fall within the remit of the Journal and reaching an appropriate standard will be subject to peer review by at least two referees.
JCOM also encourages submission of essays that provide a thought provoking exploration of a topic relevant to the subject areas covered by the Journal. Essays should discuss issues faced by the communities served by the Journal and may be directed at either scholarly debate or science communication practice. Essays will be reviewed by at least one Editorial Advisory Board member.
Articles submitted to JCOM must not have been published in other journals, or be under consideration for publication elsewhere. Editorial oversight and peer review is handled anonymously.
The Editorial Advisory Board reviews JCOM's publication policies and ensures the scientific quality of accepted papers.
Organisation chart |
JCOM is organised as follows: Editor in chief, Editorial Advisory Board, Editorial Office at SISSA Medialab, Publishing Office at SISSA Medialab
The Editor in chief is in charge of supervising JCOM's activity, of coordinating the peer review process, the Boards' activity and of monitoring the quality of the Journal. The Editor in chief is first instance for an appeal.
The Editorial Advisory Board is called upon to facilitate the peer review process by securing appropriate peer feedback on articles submitted to JCOM. In addition to this vital role it acts as an ambassador for JCOM, by helping to promote the Journal and encourage researchers and practitioners to write for the Journal.
The Editorial Office at SISSA Medialab is in charge of supervising the functioning of the Journal. The Editorial Office monitors the Journal daily and provides assistance to authors, editors and referees.
The Publishing Office at SISSA Medialab is responsible for the marketing and distribution of the Journal, including the publication of accepted contributions (jcom.sissa.it)
Software |
The JCOM editorial office is based at SISSA Medialab, where a web-based software system has been developed and is used to process submissions and run the entire editorial procedure.
The software system relies on a powerful database that stores the files of the contributions, their metadata and, most importantly, all the correspondence between the Journal users (the director, authors, editors, referees, the editorial office and the typesetters). Users therefore have direct access to all the information, files and correspondence items appropriate for their role on their personal web pages. All users have a single username and password to access their home page on the JCOM website for all of their different roles.
Published papers are available online on open access terms on jcom.sissa.it
Editorial Board |
| Dominique Brossard | University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA |
| Nancy Longnecker | University of Otago, New Zealand |
| Luisa Massarani | Museu da Vida, Brazil |
| Paola Rodari | Fondazione Internazionale Trieste, Italy |
Editorial Advisory Board |
| Andrea Bandelli | Executive Director, Science Gallery International, Ireland |
| Rebecca Bruu Carver | Science communication Advisor, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway |
| Michael F. Dahlstrom | Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, Iowa State University, Ames, USA |
| Lloyd Spencer Davis | University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Antonio Gomes da Costa | Consultant in Science Communication, ena Education |
| Chen Ganigar | National Science Museum, THAILAND |
| Craig Hilton | Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies, Unitec, New Zealand |
| Marina Joubert | CREST (Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology), South Africa |
| Rod Lamberts | The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australia |
| Joan Leach | School of English, Media Studies and Art History Convenor, Science Communication program, University of Queenland, Brisbane, St Lucia, Australia |
| Bruce Lewenstein | Department of Communication and Science & Technology Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY |
| Pieter Maeseele | Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Political & Social Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium |
| Matteo Merzagora | Scientific director, Traces and Espace des sciences Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, ESPCI ParisTech |
| Juan Nepote | Director of Museology of Trompo Mágico Museo Interactivo, Guadalajara, Mexico |
| Rafael Pardo Avellaneda | BBVA Foundation, Madrid, Spain |
| Nico Pitrelli | Sissa, Italy |
| Carmelo Polino | Centro de Estudios sobre Ciencia, Desarrollo y Educación Superior, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Subramaniam Ramanathan | National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore |
| Gema Revuelta | Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain |
| Simone Rödder | KlimaCampus, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany |
| Mike S. Shaefer | IPMZ - Institut für Publizistikwissenschaft und Medienforschung Abteilung «Wissenschafts-, Krisen- & Risikokommunikation», Zürich, Switzerland |
| Surjit Singh | CSIR-NISCAIR, PUSA Campus, New Delhi, India |
| Brian Trench | Science communication researcher and trainer, Dublin, Ireland |
| Marteen van der Sanden | Dept. Science Education & Communication, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands |
| Hiromi M. Yokoyama | School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
JCOM Staff |
| Editor-in-chief | |
| Emma Weitkamp | UWE Bristol, UK |
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| Editorial Office | |
| Cristiana Prever | Supervisor |
| Beatrice Biggio | |
| Giulia Cassano | |
| Maria Teresa Leo | |
| Gabriella Furlan | |
| Caterina Massa | |
| Federica Princi | |
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| Software and system development and maintenance | |
| Mick McElroy | Supervisor |
| Giorgia Del Bianco | |
| Matteo Gamboz | |
| Marco Mizzaro | |
| Alessandro Sebastianutti | |
| Cristian Zoicas | |
Contact details |
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The JCOM Editorial office can be contacted via email at jcom-eo@jcom.sissa.it Sissa Medialab srl |
