The Student Journal of Natural Sciences (SJNS) has published its first student-authored articles.

SJNS has been created to provide students with a platform to not only publish their work, but to also gain valuable experience in the editorial and peer review process. The first two articles to be published highlight the diversity of topics that SJNS will be showcasing.

Thomas Dewar from Keele’s School of Law, previously of the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, provides a qualitative analysis of people's perceptions of patents on medical innovations. The article explores the links between education, information and media coverage of medicines and the patent system and how these factors might influence an individual's perceptions of the product or innovation. In contrast to that article, Rowshi Hussain (along with co-authors S Rogers and J Blackburn), from Keele’s School of Geography and Geology and the Environment, outlines a new method for detecting and recording the presence of calcareous walled micro-fossils from thin-sections of rock. This article introduces this method as a cheap and accessible alternative to the current ‘standard’ methodology used. These articles demonstrate the breadth of topics covered by students within the Natural Sciences, and the impact that student work can achieve.

Each year thousands of University students conduct research as part of their studies, and this research is becoming an increasingly integral part of many undergraduate degree routes within Natural Science disciplines. Accreditation bodies often insist on student-led research projects within degree programmes, and many employers have also expressed the importance of a research project. Research also forms the cornerstone of most postgraduate studies. This research is vital not only for the development of a student with regards to their discipline understanding and proficiency, but also from an early career perspective.

SJNS has been established to provide students with a platform to disseminate their research, as an electronic (online only), peer reviewed journal aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students from across the spectrum of the Natural Sciences. The journal has been developed by early career staff and students cooperatively to support and develop scientific enquiry, critical thinking, creative activity and scholarship. It also aims to support staff (and the teaching and learning environments in general) by encouraging research-led teaching, and acting as an avenue for the encouragement, promotion and generation of student-led research activities.

Dr Steven Rogers, Director of Education for the School of Geography Geology and the Environment, and SJNS Editor in Chief comments:

“Through disseminating the idea of SJNS, from initial conception, up to this point of the first publications, we have been met with nothing but positive feedback, which is fantastic.

“The dissemination of student research is a hugely important and satisfying process that is often overlooked or not taken advantage of by students and their respective staff supervisors. We would urge students to consider us as a platform for their work (and for staff to consider us for your students’ work!) and do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have; we are here to help develop student works from the outset!”

Collaborations between students and staff are welcomed, however a student must be the first and corresponding author. Interdisciplinary work is also welcomed, including projects which traverse sciences and the humanities. SJNS is Diamond Open Access; submission, publication and access to SJNS are all free.

The call for submissions for SJNS is open; more details can be found on the SJNS web pages.

The Student Journal of Natural Sciences is brought to you as a franchise of The Journal of Academic Development and Education.