Special Issue

Introduction to Special Issues

In scientific journals, a special issue refers to a collection of papers on a specific topic, theme or research area that is compiled and published as a single issue of the journal. Special issues are usually organized by guest editors, who are experts in the area, and can be initiated by the journal editors or proposed by potential guest editors.

Special issues provide a platform for researchers to present and disseminate their research findings on a particular topic, and can stimulate interest in emerging research areas or highlight current research trends. They can also serve as a means to bring together researchers from different fields to collaborate on a specific issue.

In general, the process for publishing a special issue is similar to that of a regular issue, but with additional planning and coordination involved. Guest editors typically issue a call for papers and solicit submissions, and then select the papers to be included in the special issue based on their relevance, quality, and originality. Once the papers have been accepted and reviewed, they are compiled and published as a single issue of the journal.

Types of Special Issue

This section can describe the different types of special issues that journals may publish. Here are some examples of the types of special issue in scientific journals. The specific types and themes of special issues may vary depending on the journal and research area.

Major Components of a Special Issue


Additional components may include:

Overview of Guest Editor

This section can explain the role of guest editors in organizing and overseeing the special issue, as well as how they are selected and what qualifications they may have.

Guest Editor

A guest editor is a researcher who is invited by the editorial board of a scientific journal to take on the responsibility of curating a special issue. The guest editor is responsible for selecting the papers to be included in the special issue, managing the peer review process, and working with the authors to ensure that their papers meet the standards of the journal. 

Guest editors are typically experts in the subject area of the special issue, and are chosen based on their knowledge, experience, and research contributions in that field. They may also have experience as reviewers or editors for other scientific journals. The role of a guest editor is to ensure that the special issue is of the highest quality and makes a significant contribution to the field. Overall, guest editors play a crucial role in the publication of special issues in scientific journals, and their contributions are essential to ensuring that the special issue is a success.

There are several types of guest editor:

More Explaination

Invited guest editor: This is the most common type of guest editor. An invited guest editor is selected by the journal's editorial board to curate a special issue based on their expertise in the subject area. 

Editorial board member guest editor: Editorial board member of a journal will curate a special issue as a guest editor. This can be a way to showcase their research interests and contribute to the journal in a unique way. 

Theme-based guest editor: Special issue will have a specific theme or topic that the guest editor is responsible for selecting and organizing the papers around. These guest editors are often chosen for their expertise in that particular area.

Call for Papers

This section can provide information on how authors can submit papers to the special issue, including guidelines for formatting and submitting their manuscripts.

In any call for paper, these are the key headings:

Review and Publication Process

This section can outline the steps involved in the review and publication process for special issues, including how the peer-review process is managed and how long it may take for papers to be published.

Examples of Special Issues

This section can provide examples of special issues that have been published in the journal or other similar journals, highlighting the topics and authors that have been featured.

Call for Paper on Optical Fibre Sensing

The Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732) is calling for an Special Issue on "Optical Fibre Sensing: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives".  We invite both theoretical and experimental submissions of original articles, review articles, and technical notes that focus on recent state-of-the-art advances and future directions in the field of optical fibre sensing. 

Dr. Jun Long Lim, Guest Editor
Learn more about this special issue

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/photonics/special_issues/9MQYH42J41

Benefits of Special Issues

This section can describe the benefits that authors may receive by publishing their work in a special issue, such as increased visibility, opportunities for collaboration, and recognition for their work.

Endnotes

Keywords

research paper, manuscript, research, science, Singapore 

Tags 

#publication #paper #research #manuscript #editorial