No Science Fair? No Problem. Engaging Students in Science Communication through Peer Review and Publication in a Remote World

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since March 2020, in-person science competitions have been cancelled or moved to a virtual space. This reality has encouraged teachers and students to find alternative ways to disseminate student research and participate in a scientific community. Participating in the peer review and publication of one’s research offers one such alternative. The Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI) is a free, online, peer-reviewed science journal specifically for middle school and high school students. JEI provides students the opportunity to engage with professional scientists through the peer review process and share their research with a broad audience, all on a remote platform. This article describes resources that are freely available to help teachers navigate the peer review and publication processes and guide their students through the successful completion of submission and publication of their research papers. Overall, students perceive the experience as attainable and found the JEI resources useful in completing their papers. Importantly, students expressed that the experience of publication increased their confidence and interest in STEM.

Keywords

• science communication
• science research
• science writing
• peer review
• publication