Science Journal for Kids
| Discipline | Science |
|---|---|
| Language | English, Bengali, Bulgarian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Lao, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish |
| Edited by | Tanya Dimitrova |
| Publication details | |
Former name(s) | Science Journal for Kids |
Publication history | 2015-present |
| Publisher | Science Journal for Kids |
| Frequency | monthly |
| yes | |
| License | Creative Commons |
| Find out here | |
| Indexing | |
| ISSN | 2575-9426 |
| Links | |
Search Science Journal for Kids on Amazon.Science Journal for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to making scientific literature accessible to the public. Founded in 2015 by an AP environmental science teacher, the organization publishes digital adaptations of scientific papers and classroom curriculum aids designed primarily for children and teens. Each piece describes a novel scientific discovery, glossary of keywords, and implications of the research.[1][self-published source] Science Journal for Kids features a variety of freely downloadable content, including age-appropriate articles, opening videos, assessment questions, teacher's keys, metadata (keywords, reading level, curriculum alignment), and educator resources (slide shows, labs, online quizzes, and recommended websites).
Mission
Scientific literature is often dense, expensive, and hard to comprehend. Science Journal for Kids strives to bridge the academic divide by translating scientific literature into accessible content for all.[2] Rewritten pieces seek to appeal to kids through kid-friendly language, real-world examples, ample illustrations, and light humor. The organization mainly focuses on adapting published research, creating supplemental materials for educators, and disseminating content through outreach programs.[3][not in citation given]
Business
Employment
Industries: education management, publishing
Company size: 1-50 employees
Type: educational institution
Common Hires: writer, graphic designer, scientist, educator
Total employee count: 33% annual growth[4][self-published source]
Competitors & Field Members
- The Week Junior
- Ask Magazine
- Frontiers for Young Minds
- National Geographic Kids
- The Columbia Junior Science Journal
- Ranger Rick
- Discover
- Muse Magazine
- Cobblestone Magazine
Leadership
The editorial team is made up of primary and secondary school educators, scientific researchers, graphic designers, and freelance and popular science writers. The board of academic advisors primarily consists of University of California Berkeley and University of Texas Austin researchers.[2]
Public Opinion & Outlook
Journal Impact
Science Journal for Kids has created over 100 peer-reviewed publications for 2nd to 12th graders. Their website has close to a million visitors annually, most of which are adult educators, parents, or science community members. Roughly 25% of visitors return to the site, based on recent Google Analytics data. Feedback is gathered by article through google analytics and by curriculum through teacher feedback. A controlled impact study on 130 U.S. high school students was last conducted in 2017 by UC Berkeley.[5][not in citation given] Annual impact reports are published annually by the organization.
Criticism
Popular science and research adaptations have received mixed reviews from both the scientific community and the general public. Field experts argue that objectivity in the sciences is achieved through precise reporting of findings with minimal extrapolation or speculation of impact. Authors in the sciences are held accountable through rigorous peer-review, institutional policies, and government regulations. Critics suggest that popular science is largely unregulated, carrying the potential to misrepresent study outcomes and mislead public audiences when conducted erroneously.
Readership critics present an opposing viewpoint; primarily taking issue with the ways in which content adaptations are portrayed. The notion of "dumbing down" scientific information can be considered offensive. Instead, readers propose scientific literature be made more concise.[6]
Positive Feedback
Educators in favor of adaptations propose that accessing scientific texts improves literacy skills, expands information contexts, and allows students to enjoy scientific research at younger ages. Popular science may serve as an alternative to traditional textbooks and speed the delivery of discoveries, especially in cases where raw scientific literature is inaccessible (above reading or grade level knowledge). Short developmentally appropriate articles may be a time-effective resource for conducting fact-finding, comprehension, and extension activities in schools and home settings[7].
Funding, Endorsements, & Media Attention
Science Journal for Kids is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, GM Foundation, Goggio Family Foundation, Imperial College of London, and others. Article adaptations cost $1000-$2000 and are funded through foundation grants, university funds, and lab-specific grants. Science Journal for Kids is recommended by Nature: Ecology & Evolution, PLOS, Gavi: The Vaccine Alliance, Berkeley Public Health,[2] Data Nuggets, Carnegie Science. Adaptations have been reported on by Fenews.co.uk[8], Guidestar, Tedx, The Daily Californian[5], The Marine Biological Association[3], The Royal Society of Chemistry[7], Berkeley Public Health,[2] and Gavi: The Vaccine Alliance.[1][self-published source] Testimonials are available from researchers, university members, teachers, and industry members.
Author Rights & Fees
Authorship & Copyright
Adaptations of open access publications are published under Creative Commons Copyright. Adaptations of subscription-based journal content are published for non-commercial educational purposes. Original articles are fully cited and linked in the adaptation publication.
Publication Cost
$1000-2000 per adaptation package (article & supplementary materials)
Research Selection & Adaptation
Selection
To be considered for adaption, studies must satisfy three criteria: 1) the study must fall under the academic research sector (commercial and private pieces are not accepted); 2) it must be published in a peer-reviewed high-impact academic journal with open-access rights; and 3) the study must have a release date within the past year. Suggestions for coverage are gathered from the editorial team, institutions, and members of the public. Researchers can also request adaptation of their papers, however, selection is based on editorial board approval. Article topics cover a range of fields, including ecology, evolution, molecular biology, environmental science, chemistry, and more.[1][self-published source]
Writing
First draft adaptations are written by Science Journal for Kids and Teens editors. Drafts are reviewed by authors of the original research, who provide comments and revisions for the adaptation.
Illustration
Following text approval, graphic designers create easy-to-read scientific figures, diagrams, cartoons, and photographs to adorn the content. Complete article proofs are reviewed and approved by the original researchers.
Publication
The adapted scientific article is published as a freely downloadable PDF on the Science Journal for Kids website. News media may republish content and features with permission from Science Journal for Kids.
Supplementary Materials
Educator's resources are prepared to accompany the adaptation article. Materials typically include opening videos, slide show presentations, lab activities, student assessment questionnaires, a teacher's key, curriculum alignment notes, glossary terms, and suggestions for presentation. Supplementary and curriculum content is published online, alongside the adapted article. Teachers also have the option of signing up for new content updates.
Article Sections
Each article begins with a cartoon and a title that poses a question to readers. Below, original researchers are credited, followed by the adaptation editor. A brief abstract provides a summary of the discovery and important field implications. The main text is limited to 800-1000 words and is divided into sections that simulate the original study: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Figures, References. Italicized vocabulary, concise wording, and informative imagery aim to make content memorable and accessible[8]. A subset of articles is available with translations.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Abbas, K., Procter, S.R., Flasche, S., Panayotova, E., Corcoran, M. (2020). "Routine vaccinations during a pandemic- benefit or risk?". Gavi: The Vaccine Alliance. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Science journal for kids brings public health research to middle and high school students". Berkeley Public Health (Press release). 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Science Journal for Kids: What are the most dangerous places for sharks?". The Marine Biologist. 18: 25.
- ↑ "Science Journal for Kids - Overview, Competitors, and Employees". Apollo.io. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Krishnan, M. (2020). "Science journal for kids adapts UC Berkeley study to make it kid-friendly". The Daily Californian. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "The Pop-Science Paradox | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Conkerton2021-07-22T08:42:00+01:00, Laura. "Effective reading strategies for the chemistry classroom". RSC Education. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Imperial College Business School (2020). "Imperial college and science journal for kids and teens are helping young people understand COVID-19". Fenews.co.uk. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External links
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