Manuscript types
The following types of manuscripts are considered for peer-reviewed publication in E&G Quaternary Science Journal (EGQSJ):
- Research articles are based on primary data collected and present substantial and original findings. They should cover no more than 20 pages in print. A template is available in the manuscript preparation section, which can be used to estimate the length of the manuscript in print. Exceptions may be possible upon request. After submission, all research articles will run through an in-depth review by at least 2 external referees and a member of the editorial board acting as handling editor.
- Express reports are short, quickly published papers on innovative aspects of Quaternary research. They are not equivalent to a full article and hence must not contain an abstract or an extensive description of the state of research. A short and concise introduction to the topic or the underlying research question is sufficient. The reports should cover no more than 5 pages in print. They may contain a maximum of 15 references and 4 tables/figures. A template is available in the manuscript preparation section, which can be used to estimate the length of the manuscript in print. Exceptions may be possible upon request. The scope of the express reports includes the following aspects of Quaternary research:
- unusual or ambiguous discoveries which are provided to the public for discussion or comment;
- interesting but perhaps incomplete results which are not sufficient for a full article;
- technical reports on lab or field methods which foster Quaternary research but are are not sufficient for a full article;
- status reports on (small) finished research projects or surveys;
- reports on field surveys;
- results with difficult, limited, or complex chronology.
- EGQSJ publishes thesis abstracts of exceptional/excellent PhD and master theses, provided that the respective thesis was completed (and published). The number of pages is limited to 2, including a maximum of 2 figures and/or tables. A template is available in the manuscript preparation section, which can be used to estimate the length of the manuscript in print. After submission, all thesis abstracts will run through a quality check by an external referee and a member of the editorial board acting as handling editor. Thesis abstracts should be arranged as follows:
- title of the thesis;
- full name and email address of the author;
- affiliation of the institution where the thesis was supervised;
- present affiliation;
- name of the main supervisor and the co-supervisors;
- weblink (if available) to the electronic version of the thesis;
- abstract not exceeding 2 pages in print, which is equal to approximately 1,500 words (including references and captions);
- a maximum of 2 figures, illustrations, or tables.
- Retrospectives are short review papers that aim to critically evaluate the influence of key ideas, methodological developments, seminal publications, and the personal contribution of individual researchers to the wider field of Quaternary research. A paper in the retrospective category should typically cover no more than 5 pages in print with a maximum of 15 references and 4 tables and 4 figures. A template is available in the manuscript preparation section, which can be used to estimate the length of the manuscript in print. Exceptions may be possible upon request. The scope of a retrospective is to reflect on past processes, important debates, and influential scholars that shaped our present understanding of the Quaternary period. After submission, a retrospective will be run through a quality check by at least 1 external referee and a member of the editorial board acting as handling editor. This review process will guarantee high quality regarding scientific content and formal criteria. If no major modifications of the manuscript are requested, online publication can be expected within a couple of weeks after submission. If you are considering writing a retrospective, please contact the editorial board beforehand.