Insights into Scientific Publishing

Publishing your work in an influential journal begins with good research, but there is much more to it. This interactive talk aims to demystify the editorial process from the perspective of an editor at a Nature Portfolio journal. What takes a paper from new submission to accepted article? We will begin by discussing what our editors look for in potential papers and what defines an impactful result in the eyes of an editor, including for example replication studies or negative results. We will discuss how best to communicate your work to the editor and reviewers to ensure that the point gets across. We will then walk through all stages of the peer review process, from how editors select referees, to how we make decisions from a set of reports. We will discuss best practices in presenting your data and results, and the initiatives undertaken by Nature Portfolio journals to improve accessibility, reproducibility, and transparency of published research, such as transparent peer review and sharing of data and code. Throughout the talk, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about any aspect of the editorial process that captures your curiosity.