JYI is a student-led initiative to broaden the undergraduate scientific experience, allowing students to participate in the scientific review and publication processes of its peer-reviewed undergraduate journal. Incorporated as a non-profit, student-run corporation, JYI represents over 50 different academic institutions from over half a dozen countries. JYI has been featured in EurekAlert!, Chemical Engineering News, and The Chronicle on Higher Education. An article highlighting JYI appeared in The New York Times in 1999.

What is the web journal and what is its purpose?

JYI is dedicated to presenting undergraduate research in science, mathematics, and engineering. We not only publish submissions from undergraduates but also allow students to experience the other side of the scientific publication: the editorial review process. Students editors working with their faculty advisors review submissions from their peers and determine whether that work is acceptable for publication in JYI.

How does JYI improve undergraduate science training?

While many efforts to improve undergraduate science education are focusing on the important goal of making students’ experiences more experiential and research-oriented, JYI is focusing on the rest of the problem: reviewing and being reviewed by their peers. We recognize that student authors are likely to have little experience in scientific writing and peer-review. JYI helps guide these students by encouraging them to focus on content revision and scientific writing. Student editors, on the other hand, receive in-depth training as scientific reviewers. JYI’s student editors have gather at the journal’s annual conference to discuss scientific publishing. Students have previously attended workshops led by senior editors from Science Magazine. When these JYI authors and editors become professionals, they will be more effective communicators and reviewers.