SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN welcomes ideas for news, features, opinion and analysis articles on recent scientific discoveries, social and policy issues, technical innovations and overviews of impactful research. Our authors are scientists who have extensive knowledge of the field or journalists with the experience and background to deeply explore the topics they propose to cover.

News Articles

Pitches sent to Scientific American should be about two to four paragraphs in length and should clearly state:

• What is the central premise, thesis, or point that the proposed story will make that will set it apart from previous related articles in Scientific American or any other publication? This should be stated as one sentence, or at most, two, right at the top of the pitch. (We strongly suggest that before sending a pitch, authors conduct a very thorough search of any previously published related material and show in a pitch how their idea is different or takes the story forward).

• With whom will you speak to get information and comments to back this up?

• With whom will you speak for an independent and potentially critical perspective?

• What type of research or background information will you provide for this story, and what other points or conclusions, if any, will be made?

• How many words and what time frame do you propose for this story?

Please avoid, to the extent possible, referring to hyperlinks within a pitch. Thanks!

Please see our directory to identify the most appropriate editor for a pitch and contact them directly.

Feature Articles

We are always looking for deep-dive explorations of new developments in science and technology, articles that use empirical research to make sense of societal change, and narratives propelled by character and conflict. We strive to publish stories that use rigorous science and clear thinking to cut through hype, Pollyannaism, and doomsaying. We avoid jargon, but we tend to go deeper into processes and mechanisms of action than most general-interest magazines. Our features usually run from 2,000 to 4,000 words, and they are written and edited for curious general readers who love untangling big ideas and want smart context for what’s going on in the world.

If you’re interested in pitching a feature story, please send us a one- to two-page proposal that explains:

• What you want to write about, why it’s interesting, and why people will want to read about it now

• How you’ll tell the story (including, if you’re a journalist, a rough reporting plan)

• How your piece will advance the conversation

• Why you’re the right person to write it

Feature pitches don’t need to be formal, but they should be thoughtful and stylish, and they should show that you can pull off the story you’re proposing. They should also be self-contained: links are welcome, but please don’t outsource the work of explaining your subject to the Internet.

Please see our directory to identify the most appropriate editor for a pitch and contact them directly.

Opinion and Analysis Articles

We welcome essays from thought leaders and scholars at all levels, from grad students and postdocs to senior researchers, CEOs and policy professionals in government and nonprofits. Our authors come from, or are in a position to influence, all STEM-related fields or enterprises, from all parts of the world. Finished pieces should be approximately 800-1,000 words long. They should be written in an active voice, using a conversational tone with minimal jargon—as though you were at a dinner party with intelligent, educated non-scientists who are curious about what you do and what you think about. Your affiliation and experience as described in a brief bio will establish your expertise.

These essays should not be promotional in nature. We don’t accept submissions that tout specific products. We do, however, accept pieces by the authors of journal papers who are explaining their results for a non-technical audience, or by businesspeople who address trends in the fields in which they operate. In the latter case, it’s appropriate to talk about what your company is doing, but that should not be the main focus. You will be asked to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

Anyone can submit your essay on your behalf, but the essay should not be ghostwritten – we expect to work directly with the writer or writers to prepare the essay for publication.

We look for fact-based arguments. Therefore, if you are making scientific claims—aside from those that are essentially universally accepted (e.g., evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of life on Earth; vaccines do not cause autism; the Earth is about 93 million miles from the Sun) we ask you to link to original scientific research in reputable journals or assertions from reputable science-oriented institutions. Using secondary sources such as news reports or advocacy organizations that do not do actual research is not sufficient.

The range of potential topics is almost unlimited: essays can be serious or tragic or funny or provocative or simply intriguing. Some of the many possible topics for a successful essay include:

• New and emerging trends in one’s field of expertise
• Ethical quandaries in particular STEM fields, and how to think about them
• Commentary on recent high-profile results or announcements in one’s field
• A lay-language explanation of one’s own recent journal publication
• How the author came up with a new approach to a scientific/technical question
• What the experience of working in the field or in the lab is like
• How well or badly STEM fields are doing at being inclusive of under-represented populations
• What the likely effects might be if a given public policy were to go into effect or to go away
• A window into a little-known but fascinating area of inquiry
• How to address an existing problem or question in a novel way
• How the practice of science could be made more effective/transparent/equitable
• What policy or business leaders should be doing to properly manage an emerging or key area

To propose an essay, email a simple, one-paragraph description of what you’d like to write about and what your background/affiliation(s) are to our Chief Opinion Editor, Megha Satyanarayana, at meghas@sciam.com or to our general inquiry email: opinion@sciam.com

Poetry

Submissions to the Meter poetry column should be addressed to Scientific American’s Meter editor Dava Sobel at dsobel@sciam.com. Poems can cover any aspect of science or math but must be new work or at least previously unpublished.