Engaging in Scientific Publishing: Benefits and Norms to Follow as Authors and Reviewers [Young Professionals]

The engagement of young researchers in the process of scholarly publishing is essential to their career development as well as to advancing science. It signals active involvement with the discourse in a field and contribution to the body of knowledge. Writing and reviewing scientific articles can facilitate a deep understanding of the scientific process and the nuances of effective experimental design as well as the acquirement of appropriate scientific communication skills; notably, these skills are central to the competitiveness and success of young professionals (YPs) in today’s and tomorrow’s workplace, be it in academia or industry. A number of research studies have explored the benefits of engaging young researchers in scientific publishing. As highlighted in some of these studies, despite the importance of the early exposure of graduate students and young researchers to scientific writing and peer review, relevant activities are often not prioritized within the framework of educational programs, thus leading to the limited development of key skills—critical to the success of YPs across different fields—such as communicating research to a general audience, structuring ideas through effective scientific writing, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of experimental design
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. Thus, it is of paramount importance that YPs are aware of the benefits of becoming actively involved in the publication process, both as authors and reviewers, and are also provided—and pursue themselves—relevant opportunities toward augmenting their technical and communication skills, which can prove valuable in their current and future careers. The IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) offers a range of journals, covering the entire spectrum of the antennas and propagation field, that represent excellent opportunities for YPs to advance their career through publishing and reviewing
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