What we Publish
Peer Reviewed
Surveys
Peer-reviewed. 5,000-10,000 words excluding references; up to ten figures or tables;
Surveys are in-depth reviews of the literature on a particular topic that present (i) major discoveries and recent advances (ii) significant gaps and uncertainties (iii)current debates (iv)future directions where research might go next.Cross disciplinary comparisons of concepts are eligible. Surveys must not only summarize advances in a field, but must do so in a way that is both accessible and relevant to those working in other disciplines. Overly long manuscripts are less likely to be read by people outside the particular field and brevity is strongly encouraged.
Example: Sustainable development indicators: a scientific challenge, a democratic issue
Analyses
Peer-reviewed. 5,000-10,000 words excluding references; up to ten figures or tables;
Analyses articles synthesise voluminous contribution such as reports or books and provide a critical analysis of content, methodology and conclusions. The Analyses section presents the key concepts, the points of consensus and the matters of disagreement within scientific communities. Articles must be accessible and relevant to those working in other disciplines. Analyses articles follow the format of Surveys.
Example: The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change: contents, insights and assessment of the critical debate
Perspectives
Peer-reviewed. Less than 5,000 words excluding references; up to three figures or tables;
Perspectives articles intend to provide insight on the future of a particular scientific research area. These articles can typically present future groundbreaking research, new hypothesis or speculative idea. Personal opinions are encouraged as long as the distinction from or convergence with generally accepted views is clearly articulated.
Example: Safety standards: An urgent need for Evidence-Based Regulation
Introductions
Peer-reviewed. Less than 5,000 words excluding references; up to three figures or tables;
Introductions articles relate a pioneering intellectual trajectory and analyze the breadth of its influence on contemporary research. These articles can present the seminal work of an individual, a research team or a school of thought. Context and importance of insightful theories, operative concepts and/or crucial experiments should be exposed clearly.
Example: Darwinian Storied Residence. An introduction to the Work of Holmes Rolston III
Methods
Peer-reviewed. Less than 5,000 words excluding references; up to eight figures or tables;
These articles describe how recent technical and methodological developments profoundly modify the way research is conducted in a particular area of research and/or hold great potential for other disciplines. Description of the method must be illustrated by its application(s) to an important scientific issue and its performance should be compared to other available approaches. Interest for other disciplines should be clearly presented.
Example: Geoarchaeology: where human, social and earth sciences meet with technology
Disambiguation
Peer-reviewed. Less than 5,000 words excluding references; up to five figures or tables;
A single word can refer to different phenomena depending on contexts or disciplines. Disambiguation articles define and illustrate the different meanings of these polysemantic words.
Not Peer-Reviewed
Book Reviews
Not peer-reviewed. Less than 3500 words text; up to two figures or tables; up to 20 references. No abstract.Book Reviews articles give a presentation and analyse exceptional books. The book reviews should provide the readers with an informative and critical discussion of the work regardless of his/her discipline. The style should be clear, concise and entertaining, more similar to a science magazine article than a traditional scientific paper. Book Reviews articles are edited in-house and are not peer-reviewed, although editors may ask colleagues for advice and guidance.
Views
Not peer-reviewed. Less than 2500 words text; up to two figures or tables; up to 10 references. No abstract.
S.A.P.I.EN.S also publishes brief and visionary articles in its Views section. Views articles present issues and/or approaches from a highly synthetic point of view. These articles could summarize a holistic approach, compare scenarios, synthesize foreseen benefits and impacts of new technologies, etc. Views articles should be accessible to the reader, regardless of his/her field of research. The style should be informative, clear, concise and entertaining, more similar to a science magazine article than a traditional scientific paper. Views articles are edited in-house and are not peer-reviewed, although editors may ask colleagues for advice and guidance
Example: Our energy for the future