BU Research Blog

I opened by ‘ideas book’ full of random notes and reminders of things that I should have done ages ago just now and found a small yellow, innocent looking post-it with the words ‘PGR & ECR journal?’ Do I hear a stampede of volunteers to get this off the ground? We could fund this and make it happen via the Fusion Investment Fund if there is an interest, may be even call the journal ‘Fusion’ if the title has not already been taken!

Over the last few years I have talked to several people about the idea of an internal journal to help PGR students – doctoral and masters – publish. There are also some cracking undergraduate dissertations each year which could be published as well via such a vehicle. Internal journals are also ideal places for Early Career Researchers (ECR) to try out and develop new ideas before launching them on the big journals. I believe for example that the Business School has recently set up a working paper series which is a similar concept.

So what I have in mind is a BU journal – Fusion – which is managed by a small editorial board of PGR students and staff publishing material online with full internal peer review. Papers could either be visible internally only or externally depending on whether staff/students plan to publish it in an external journal later. We could form the scope in such a way as to embrace research, education and practice and therefore live up to the name of Fusion. It could also be a place to share ideas and showcase the work of our students, early career researchers and to try out new ideas.

If this is to get off the ground I need an energetic champion(s) who fancies taking this forward with my full support, and financial backing, as well as volunteers to join an editorial board and any idea or thought around this concept would be welcome to add into the mix. I look forward to hearing from you!

Matthew