Query Letters
If you would like to write for the Berkeley Science Review, the first step is to send us a short query letter. The query should be about one page long and should sell your article. Tell us why your story is interesting and timely, what's the Berkeley angle, and who you will be talking to. Be specific about what you plan to do and let your personality come through in your writing style. You should also include information about your writing and science background and your connection to UC Berkeley, as well as 2-3 writing samples or clips, if you have them. Here’s a sample proposal to get you started. We like to see queries that are well thought out and compelling, but if you have a more vague idea you can send that in as well. Please see our deadlines for the current issue.

We will let you know within a few weeks of submission whether your story has been selected for the next issue. If it has, you’ll then be assigned an editor who will discuss possible directions for the piece, recommend resources, and generally act as a helpful guide and vigilant proofreader. You, along with your editor, will work on re-writes and drafts of the article. If you have a piece already written that you’d like to submit, send it in and an editor will contact you.

Article Assignments
If you want to write for us, but don’t have any proposal ideas, then send us a letter describing your writing and scientific background, areas of interests, and connection to UC Berkeley, as well as a brief (150-500 word) writing sample. We will try to match you with an article topic. Samples should be accessible to a general audience and show your ability to put together a cogent story.

We recommend that you glance over our resources and style guidelines page as you write your article.

Article Styles and Formats

• Current research news and briefs
  These should be no more than two double spaced pages with at most 1 figure. They may be about your own research or the research of another Berkeley student or faculty member. They should be informative, fun and easy to read.

• Book reviews
  These may be about a book written by a Cal faculty or student in the last two years. We prefer that you do not review textbooks or collections of edited papers. Length should be about two double spaced, 12-point font pages with no figures.

• Long-form research articles
  These may be about your own research or the research of another Berkeley student or faculty member. Submissions should be accessible to the intelligent and motivated non-expert. When writing your article, consider whether or not your fellow graduate students in various fields will find it comprehensible, informative, and fun to read. Submissions should be 4-6 double-spaced pages in 12 point font, not including figures.

• Long-form review articles
  These should review a legacy of research conducted and currently active at Berkeley. Submissions should be accessible to the intelligent and motivated non-expert. When writing your article, consider whether or not your fellow graduate students in various fields will find it comprehensible, informative, and fun to read. Submissions should be 4-8 double-spaced pages in 12 point font, not including figures.

• Long-form history of science articles
  These should be about a historically significant discovery or research program and accessible to the most non-technical reader. Put your story-telling skills to work! Submissions should be 4-8 double-spaced pages in 12 point font, not including figures.

• Faculty interviews
  Interview your favorite Berkeley prof and send us the transcript. Interviews should be prefaced by a one or two paragraph profile of the faculty member and his or her research.

• Astonishing science facts and puzzles
  Send us a list or short synopsis of a quirky, interesting, or amusing science fact or puzzle. We especially encourage facts with Berkeley connections such as "Did you know that in 1944 an atom bomb was accidentally detonated in Stanley Hall?" or "10 mesmerizing facts about the construction of the Campanile."

• Artwork
  See our portfolio submission guidelines.

• What we don’t want submitted
  Essays about the trials, tribulations, and joys of graduate student life. Gossip about your advisor or labmates. Poetry.

Format
We ask that all submissions be emailed as MS Word or plain text attachments. The subject line should read "Submission-title of your submission." Include a brief synopsis of the article in the body of your email. Please do not send Latex or otherwise formatted documents. Each figure, with its accompanying caption, should be a separate page in the attached document.

Copyright
The Berkeley Science Review, a non-profit publication, is granted one-time print rights, perpetual electronic publishing rights, and the right to unlimited promotional use of all material (text, photography, or art) submitted for publication. These materials will not be used in any other way, or reprinted elsewhere, without the express permission of the author.

By submitting material to the Berkeley Science Review, you affirm that you are the author, creator or copyright owner of this material, and that you have the legal authority to give the Berkeley Science Review the rights and permissions described above. The Berkeley Science Review will not be held responsible for fraudulently submitted or plagiarised material.