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Guidelines for Authors: Scope of the Submissions

    Guidelines for Scope

    NY-CSEF, hosted and managed by Yale, Harvard University and other schools' faculties and alumni, seeks innovative scholarly research projects for presentations and online publications. We invite proposals for workshops, journals and poster presentations. We are also seeking prospective panelists on several topics. NY-CSEF accepts projects on science, engineering, humanities, social, and life science. A study that emphasize any human, social, phillosophy, economy and life science phenomenon as a major cause or effect can be the research domain as well. Additionally, NYCSEF features articles that contribute in some way to the improvement of general knowledge or empirical theory defined broadly.

    The editorial team sends submissions to reviewers before making a decision to accept. Approximately 50 to 70 percent of manuscripts submitted to NYCSEF are ultimately accepted by the by the editorial board for the students' presentation. The standards of NYCSEF’s reviewers are high. Before submitting their work, authors are strongly encouraged to seek advice and detailed comments from mentors.

    Category A - Science and Engineering

    Behavioral Science: Concerned with observable, tangible, and measurable data regarding behavior activities. Other topics in this category are psychology, educational testing, animal behavior, learning and archaeology.

    Biochemistry: The study of chemical substances occurring in living organisms and the reactions and methods for identifying these substances. Other topics in this category are molecular biology, molecular genetics, enzymes, photosynthesis, blood chemistry, protein chemistry and hormones.

    Biology: The science of life, including the study of the development, structure, and behavior of living organisms. Other topics in this category are botany, zoology, plant science, hydroponics, medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, nutrition, dermatology, veterinary medicine, microbiology, genetics, physiology, anatomy and invertebrate biology.

    Chemistry: A science that treats the composition of substances, their structure, their behavior, reactions, analysis and synthesis. Other topics in this category include physical organic, inorganic, materials, plastics, fuels, pesticides, metallurgy, and soil chemistry.

    Computers: A study of computer construction, programming, languages, techniques and general operations.

    Earth & Space Science: Earth Science is the study of weather, climate, local rock formations, mineral resources, soils, natural vegetation, and animal life. Other topics in this category are geology, geophysics, physical oceanography, meteorology, seismology, mineralogy and topography. Astronomy/Space Science is the science regarding the celestial bodies and the observation and interpretation of the radiation received in the vicinity of the earth from the component parts of the universe. Other topics in this category include optical astronomy, radio astronomy, astrophysics, astrometry and astrophotography.

    Engineering: Applied science concerned with utilizing products of earth, properties of matter, sources of power in nature, and physical forces for supplying human needs in the form of structures, machines, manufactured products, precision instruments, the means of lighting, heating, refrigeration, communication, transportation, sanitation, public safety and other productive work. Other categories are civil, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical, electrical, photographic, sound, automotive, marine, materials, ocean, biomedical, geothermal and solar.

    Environmental Science: The study of pollution sources (air, water and land) and the effects of pollution on the environment, the study of ecology, the relationships of organisms and their environments.

    Mathematics: That science which treats the exact relationships existing between quantities or magnitudes and operations, and of the methods by which, in accordance with these relations, quantities sought are deductible from others known or supposed. Topics may include calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, number theory, statistics, complex analysis and probability.

    Physics & Electronics: Physics is a natural science covering matter, energy, and their mutual relations that do not involve change in composition. Topics covered by physics are solid-state theory, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, thermodynamics, semi-conductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, biophysics and mechanics. Electronics is the study, control and application of the conduction of electricity through gases or a vacuum or through conducting or semi-conducting materials. Other topics in this category include electronic phenomena, devices and systems.

    Category B - Humanities and Social Research

    Humanities and Social Science

    We encourage humanities, social, philosophy, economy and other projects which are collaborated with other social, business, and human researchers/mentors in colleges and organizations to submit papers.

    Typical categories that we mainly accept under humanities, social studies, and philosophy include the followings:

    • Behavioral study
    • Social science
    • Psychology, Human, and Political science
    • Philosophy
    • History
    • Literature
    • Public administration
    • Art
    • Music

    *Comments on Math, Computer, and Engineering

    NYCSEF takes the papers in the categoires of Math, Computer, and Engineering, but also we consider submissions regarding these subjects: cryptography, optimum routing/scheduling problems, fuzzy numbers, processes, sets, and ODEs and ODE-based optimal control problems. The editors will accept papers on PDES in one space dimension and techniques for solving them if they demonstrate clear foundations for multidimensional problems or the nature of the problem is one-dimensional.
    Submissions regarding fractional derivatives must only be in context of PDEs in multiple space dimension. Papers regarding analysis, functional analysis, algebra, or PDE can be accepted if they demonstrate clear motivation towards a concrete application in Science or Engineering.

    Experimental Science

    The experiment should measure variables using quantifiable values, like numbers. For instance, measure data such as a count, percentage, length, width, weight, voltage, velocity, energy, time, etcetera. Alternatively, you may assess a variable that simply presents itself, or does not. For example, you can turn the lights on in one trial, then turn them off in another. Or, use fertilizer in one trial, none in the other. Remember that in science, progress must be measurable.
    You need to control the other factors that can change your experiment, so that each trial is research. A "research test" consists on only one variable is changed in the experimental environment; all other conditions are the same. Ensure that your experiment is safe to perform.

    - Can you obtain all of the materials needed for your experiment? Consider accessibility and affordability as well as the time it takes to acquire the materials.
    - Is there enough time to fully conduct your experiment. Consider things like growing time! Most experiments yield for enough time to run a test trial to refine your procedures.
    - Ensure that your project meets the rules and requirements for your particular science research
    - Consult the Science research Topics to Avoid to make sure your topic is impressive and doable.
    - If you are finding trouble with some of these tips, you may want to consider a different topic that better matches these guidelines.
    - Remember that science research projects that use human subjects, animals with backbones, or animal tissue, pathogenic agents, DNA, or controlled or hazardous substances, often require approval from the Scientific Review Committee prior to your particular science research. Consult your teacher or science research coordinator for restrictions and rules for your particular research. In addition, use the Scientific Review Committee page for more information in general.

    Guidance on Creating the Research Paper:

    A. State the title and purpose of the project.

    B. Tell where the idea for the project came from.

    C. Explain how the idea developed into an investigation/experiment/prototype.

    D. Describe the procedure that was followed.

    E. Explain how the data was collected, and whether it was recorded in a notebook.

    F. Give a review of data, tables, and graphs in a way that provides evidence for the conclusion(s). One possibility is showing data or table or graph during the video and giving an explanation at the same time.

    G. State your conclusion by accurately interpreting the evidence shown by the information in Part F.

    H. What was learned from doing the project?

    I. If done again, would anything be done differently?

    Guidelines for Presentation Slides

    The following outline should be used to create your presentation. Do not include information not specified below. If you are submitting a continuation project, include only information related to this year’s research unless otherwise directed in the instructions below. You may include graphical elements as they would explain or illustrate your work and can be contained within the overall page limit. As you create each section of the outline below, a section may extend beyond one page as long as the total for the whole presentation does not exceed 15 pages (not including the title slide or references slide).

    1. PROJECT TITLE

    The following should be included on the first slide:

    Project Number. This number will be provided in STEM Wizard and found in your account there.
    Project Title. The name of your project
    Student Name (s). List all names for a team presentation
    DO NOT include your school name.

    2. INTRODUCTION

    State your scientific research question or engineering problem and goal and tell why this interested you.
    For research, what were you trying to find out? Indicate what question you were trying to answer (your research question), a description of your purpose, and/or your hypothesis.
    For engineering, what problem were you trying to solve and why? What were you trying to design, and what was its purpose?
    Explain what is known or has already been done in this area. Include a brief review of relevant literature. If this is a continuation project, a brief summary of your prior research and work is appropriate here. Be sure to distinguish your previous work from this year’s project.

    3. METHODS

    Explain your methodology and procedures for carrying out your project in detail.
    If an engineering project, how did you design and produce your prototype? You may want to include pictures or designs of the prototype. If you tested the prototype, what were your testing procedures?
    What data did you collect and how did you collect that data? Discuss your control group and any variables you tested.
    DO NOT include a list of materials.

    4. RESULTS

    What were the result(s) of your project?
    Include tables and figures which illustrate your data.
    For an engineering project, how well did your prototype meet your engineering goal? If you tested a prototype, provide a summary of testing data tables and figures that illustrate your results.
    Include relevant statistical analysis of the data.

    5. DISCUSSION

    What is your interpretation of the results? What do these results mean? Compare your results with theories, published data, commonly held beliefs, and expected results.
    Discuss possible errors. Did any questions or problems arise that you were not expecting? How did the data vary between repeated observations of similar events? How were results affected by uncontrolled events?

    6. CONCLUSIONS

    What conclusions did you reach? Did your project turn out as you expected?
    What do these results mean in the context of the literature review and other work being done in your research area? How do the results address your research question? Do your results support your hypothesis?
    What application(s) do you see for your work?

    7. REFERENCES

    This section should not exceed one page. Limit your list to the most important references.
    List the references/documentation used which were not of your own creation (i.e., books, journal articles).

    Guidance on Creating the File Names:

    Submission page will guide you through uploading your files and and other materials once you create your account and login into your account. Please name the file(s) by your name followed by a project category and a keyword. If you have multiple files, please add a sequential number to the filenames. Example: name-category-picture1, name-category-picture2, etc.