Query Letters
If you would like to write for the Berkeley Science Review, the first step is to send us a short query letter (a pitch). The pitch should be about one page long and should sell your article. Tell us why your story is interesting and timely, the Berkeley angle, and whom you plan on interviewing. 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 1-2 non-technical writing samples 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 be sure to submit pitches by the deadline 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 your story is selected, you’ll 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 briefs
  Briefs should be no more than two double-spaced pages in 12 point font with 1-2 images (550-750 words), and cover a recent exciting scientific advance at Berkeley or some other aspect of science policy or education associated with the university. 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 images (800 words).
• Feature-length articles
  Features cover progress in a field or other broader aspect of science at Berkeley beyond the scope of a single finding or organization. Submissions should be accessible to the intelligent and motivated non-expert. When writing your article, consider whether your readers will find it comprehensible, informative, and fun to read. Submissions should be 4-6 double-spaced pages in 12 point font, not including images (2000-4000 words).
• Faculty interviews
  Interview your favorite Berkeley professor and write up the transcript. Interviews should be prefaced by a one or two paragraph profile of the faculty member and his or her research. 

  If you have a great idea that doesn’t fall into one of these categories, feel free to get in touch with us as well. We’re always looking for new, innovative writers and content.

• Back Page
  We are seeking a new columnist for our Back Page this issue. One possibility would be to continue the Time Machine series, the brainchild of departing author Zach Bohannan, which focuses on historic discoveries at Berkeley (say, 50 years ago). Another would be to revive the longstanding Who Knew? column, which focused on debunking scientific myths. 

  Exciting new ideas would, however, certainly be favored! One possibility that has been suggested would be to invite faculty to comment on what they think the future of their field would be (a format similar to the faculty profile, but focused on the future of a field rather than the biography of a scientist).

• 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.