New ANU journal of Biological Anthropology for undergraduate students
Dr Alison Behie
Students of biological anthropology at ANU will soon have the opportunity to be published in an academic journal designed specifically for them.
The new journal, prospectively called the Biological Anthropology Undergraduate Research Journal, will be published by ANU Press. Its Editor in Chief is Dr Alison Behie, a Lecturer in Biological Anthropology with the School of Archaeology & Anthropology.
Alison says that as the only Australian institution that offers degree programs in Biological Anthropology, she and her colleagues had been looking for ways to increase awareness of what their field involves and what their students can study.
“We thought a good way to do this would be through showcasing student work to show not only the subject matter taught, but the high quality of students we have in our degree programs,” Alison says.
“With new staff members coming on board earlier this year, we thought it was a good time to promote the programs we offer and get the word out there about Biological Anthropology at ANU.”
The journal is currently taking submissions for its first edition, to be published in early 2017. Items can be from any area of biological anthropology including primatology, palaeoanthropology, bioarchaeology, and human behavioural ecology.
The submission guidelines are:
Essays: Papers of up to 5,000 words that make a significant contribution to scholarship through the complete and thorough analysis of the literature on a relevant topic
Research papers: Papers of up to 5,000 words that use original research to answer a novel research question
Student experience pieces: Papers of up to 2,000 words that outline a student research experience gained during undergraduate training at ANU. This can be based on participation in a field school, intensive or lab based course.
“We will accept submissions from students up to one year after they graduate – provided the work was done as an undergrad student,” Alison says.
“My hope is that the journal will show the outstanding calibre of students we have studying Biological Anthropology at ANU and the sorts of research options that are open to them.
“I also hope that it will give students an experience to publish papers early in their academic lives, which will help them achieve more later on and give them a better understanding of academic publishing,” Alison adds.
The journal has been kick-started through the help of a $2,000 CASS Student Experience grant.
Submissions are to be sent to ug.BIANjournal.cass@anu.edu.au, with a deadline of 15 August 2016. Enquiries are to be directed to Alison at alison.behie@anu.edu.au