Thoughtful research. Clearer manuscripts. More confident submissions.
Natural & Environmental Sciences: Biology, chemistry, environmental studies, earth sciences, and interdisciplinary research.
Manuscripts in biology, chemistry, the earth sciences, and environmental research are judged on whether the methods, data, and figures support the conclusions, and whether another group could repeat the work. Reviewers look closely at sampling design, replication, analytical procedures, and access to the underlying data.
Many of these fields have formal conventions for naming organisms and compounds, reporting units, and depositing data, and environmental work often adds fieldwork permits, maps, and rules on access to genetic resources. Interdisciplinary topics such as climate, ecology, and environmental chemistry also draw readers from outside the author’s specialty, which raises the bar for clarity.
Describe materials and their sources, instruments and settings, sampling locations and dates, and the statistical approach. State whether replicates are biological or technical, how many were used, and what error bars represent.
Plots should define every symbol and error bar, micrographs need scale bars, and maps need a scale, a coordinate reference system, and the source of any base data. Image processing should be described and applied uniformly, as many journals screen images for inappropriate manipulation.
Many journals require a data availability statement and deposition in community repositories, such as those for sequence or structural data. The FAIR principles (external link) (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) describe what makes deposited data useful, and re3data (external link) helps locate a suitable repository.
Use SI units and established naming rules: IUPAC recommendations (external link) for chemical names, and binomial species names in italics with the genus capitalized. Taxonomic work follows the relevant code, such as the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (external link) or the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (external link).
Fieldwork typically needs collection or access permits, and journals may ask for permit numbers. Animal research is often reported against the ARRIVE guidelines (external link), and work using genetic resources from other countries may fall under the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing (external link).
Moving methods into supplementary files to meet length limits can leave the main text without what reviewers need to assess the work. Keep essential details in the paper, and make supplements complete and clearly labeled.
Pseudoreplication, unclear sampling units, and unstated tests are common reviewer concerns, particularly in ecology and field biology. Define the experimental unit and justify the analysis chosen.
Multipanel figures with small labels, inconsistent color scales, or hard-to-distinguish palettes lose readers. Each panel should make one point, with colors that remain distinguishable for readers with color vision deficiencies.
A statement that data are “available on request” may not satisfy journal or funder policies. Where required, deposit data with persistent identifiers, metadata, and a license before submission.
Environmental topics attract readers from ecology, chemistry, engineering, and policy. Defining specialized terms and explaining why the findings matter beyond the subfield widens the readership without diluting the science.
More on this in how to choose a journal beyond its impact factor.
Clarifies methods and results while keeping nomenclature, units, and terminology consistent across text, tables, and figure legends.
Checks figure specifications, supplementary file labeling, data availability statements, and references against the target journal’s requirements.
Compares specialist and interdisciplinary journals by scope, data policy, study types published, and publishing model.
Supports graphical abstracts, posters, and plain-language summaries for work with audiences beyond the subfield.
Official guidance worth reading alongside your target journal’s instructions.
A practical, area-by-area checklist for the final stage before submission, from author guidelines and declarations to reporting guidelines, ORCID, and the last read-through.
Manuscript Preparation7 min read
Who pays for publication, and when, depends on the journal’s publishing model. Here is how the main models compare and how to check fees, waivers, and licenses before you submit.
Journal Selection7 min read
A clear response letter answers every comment, shows exactly what changed and where, and handles disagreement with evidence. Here is a method that keeps the letter and manuscript in step.
Peer Review6 min read
Editors, reviewers, and search tools often see only your title and abstract. Here is how to make both accurate, specific, and easy to find, without overselling the findings.
Research Communication6 min read
Use the repository the journal or your research community expects, such as a discipline-specific repository for sequences or structures, and a general or institutional repository otherwise. re3data (external link) lists repositories by subject, and the journal’s data policy may name preferred options.
Many journals ask for a statement on permits for collection, site access, or protected species, and some request the permit numbers. Even when not required, a clear statement shows that the work was authorized. Check the journal’s ethics and fieldwork requirements before submitting.
Scientific names of species are italicized, with the genus capitalized; many journals ask for the genus in full at first mention and abbreviated afterward when unambiguous. Chemical names follow IUPAC recommendations, though journals may accept common names for familiar compounds. The journal’s instructions settle any differences.
Environmental manuscripts often combine field data, laboratory analysis, modeling, and policy discussion. Suitability for your manuscript is confirmed during consultation, once its disciplines, methods, and target journal are clear. Tell us about your study to begin.
Working on something specific?
Tell us the topic and the journal you have in mind. We confirm fit before proposing anything.
Ask about your manuscriptTell us the topic, the study design, and where you hope to submit. We’ll confirm whether we can help well before proposing anything.
