The Science matteris a public-facing science publication that values clarity, curiosity, and impact. We publish accessible, engaging, and thought-provoking articles that explore the connections between science and society, from policy and technology to culture, history, and opportunity.
We welcome pitches and submissions from researchers, scholars, journalists, and science communicators who want to translate complex research into stories that matter. Below are our editorial guidelines to help you shape your article for our platform.
The Science Matters is a public-facing science publication that values clarity, curiosity, and impact. We publish accessible, engaging, and thought-provoking articles that explore the connections between science and society, from policy and technology to culture, history, and opportunity.
We welcome pitches and submissions from researchers, scholars, journalists, and science communicators who want to translate complex research into stories that matter. Below are our editorial guidelines to help you shape your article for our platform.
Submission Process
Send all submissions to hello [at] thesciencematters [dot] com in the form of a Word document with:
- A short author bio (2–3 sentences) at the end of the article
- A headshot (minimum 500px)
- Any relevant social media handles or websites (E.g., LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Google Scholar, ORCID)
- Images, graphs, or infographics if available (inserted in the text and also sent as separate attachments)
Note: Images must either be your own or sourced from Creative Commons or similar open licenses. Please include proper attributions if needed.
Tone & Length
- There are no strict word limits, but most articles fall between 1000–1500 words.
- Begin with the core idea—no need to overexplain the background.
- Use a curious, concise, and intelligent tone that sparks interest without academic jargon.
- Emphasise the real-world relevance of your topic—Why should a policymaker, student, teacher, or reader outside your field care?
- If applicable, highlight the societal implications of your research.
Audience, Style, and Language
- Write for an intelligent general reader: curious, engaged, but non-specialist.
- Avoid or explain jargon and acronyms.
- Use short sentences, clear subheadings, and compact paragraphs (3–5 lines).
- Use an active voice and engaging narrative where appropriate.
- The Science Matters uses UK English and follows the Collins Dictionary.
Referencing
- Please use the APA reference format
- Include links to sources (open-access preferred) to support facts or claims.
- Avoid traditional citations or footnotes—hyperlink in the body of the text.
- Don’t link to automatic downloads (e.g., PDFs); we prefer sources viewable in-browser.
Structure
Each article should include:
- A title that is clear, punchy, and descriptive
- An intro paragraph that dives straight into the question or insight
- At least four subheadings to guide the reader through the narrative
- Where possible, visuals that complement the story (charts, photos, illustrations)
- One quotation by the lead author
- 5 key insights in a few sentences
Topics We Love
We welcome content across our six main sections, but encourage interdisciplinary connections:
- Society & Policy – Politics, economics, equity, social justice, etc.
- Discovery & Nature – Biology, physics, climate, ecosystems, etc.
- Tech & Health – AI, biotech, medicine, energy, infrastructure, etc.
- Culture & Curiosity – Science in arts, literature, philosophy, etc.
- Legacy & History – Forgotten scientists, lab culture, timelines, etc.
- Opportunities & Fellowships – Grants, open calls, career paths, etc.
We favour timely, original, and globally aware perspectives, especially those often underrepresented in mainstream science communication.
Terms & Editorial Process
By submitting, you agree to work collaboratively with our editors to shape the article.
- All pieces will be edited for clarity, tone, flow, and audience fit.
- Co-authorship is limited to three contributors per piece.
- We may share your piece with trusted media partners (with attribution).
- Expect a response within five business days. Let us know if it’s time-sensitive.
We reserve the right to decline submissions that don’t align with our vision, tone, or structure, but we always welcome dialogue and resubmission after feedback.
How to become an author?
Do you have a powerful story to tell about your research? Can you translate complex ideas into clear, compelling language for a general audience? If yes, The Science Matters would love to welcome you as a contributing author.
Get Started
- Read our Editorial Guidelines above to understand our tone and structure.
- Email your article idea or draft to hello [at] thesciencematters [dot] com.
- Our editorial team will support you in shaping your piece for publication.
Whether you’re a first-time science communicator or a seasoned academic, we’re here to help bring your research to life for everyone.
Contributor Consent & Attribution Agreement
This Contributor Consent & Attribution Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into between The Science Matters, LLC (“TSM”) and the contributor(s) (“Contributor”).
- Editorial authorship
Authorship of the article, commentary, or news piece published by The Science Matters (the “Article”) shall follow one of the two models below, as agreed prior to publication:
(a) Editorially authored articles
Where the Article is written and produced by the editorial team of The Science Matters, the Contributor’s role is limited to proofreading, fact-checking, or providing technical verification. In such cases, the Contributor acknowledges that this role does not constitute legal authorship or co-authorship of the Article.(b) Contributor-authored articles
Where the Article is written in whole or in substantial part by the Contributor, the Contributor is recognised as the editorial author of the Article for attribution purposes. - Consent to attribution
The Contributor consents to being identified as the author(s), contributing expert(s), or credited academic(s) for editorial and attribution purposes only. - Editorial independence
Final editorial control remains solely with The Science Matters. - Permission to publish and archive
The Contributor(s) grant TSM permission to publish, distribute, archive, and promote the Article and retain it permanently. - Intellectual property and ownership
Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing in advance of publication, all intellectual property rights in the Article shall belong exclusively to The Science Matters, LLC, regardless of whether the Article is written by the editorial team, the Contributor, or jointly. - Accuracy and good faith
The Contributor(s) confirm feedback was given in good faith and no confidential information was disclosed. - Non-exclusive reuse by Contributor
The Contributor(s) may reuse the Article for non-commercial academic, educational, or personal purposes with attribution and a link to the original publication. - Commercial reuse restriction
Any commercial reuse requires prior written consent from The Science Matters, LLC. Images and visual materials
The Contributor may provide photographs, illustrations, figures, laboratory images, portraits, or other audio/vidoe visual materials (“Images”) in connection with the Article. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing:
- Ownership
The Contributor retains copyright ownership of the Images they provide. - Licence to The Science Matters
The Contributor grants The Science Matters, LLC a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to use, reproduce, edit, adapt, crop, publish, distribute, publicly display, archive, and promote the Images in connection with:- the Article;
- The Science Matters website;
- newsletters and social media;
- editorial and promotional materials.
- Irrevocability
This licence is irrevocable for Images already published, except where legally required. - Rights and permissions
The Contributor confirms that they own the Images or have the necessary rights and permissions to license them, and that the Images do not infringe third-party rights, including institutional, privacy, or confidentiality restrictions. - Identifiable persons
Where Images include identifiable individuals, the Contributor confirms that appropriate consent has been obtained for editorial publication. - Credit
Where reasonably practicable, The Science Matters will credit the Contributor or photographer alongside the Images.
- Ownership
- Governing law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming, USA. - Acceptance
Before publication, contributors are asked to provide explicit consent to this policy, typically by confirming agreement in writing (for example, via Google Form, email, or within a shared document).