Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there a charge for submitting manuscripts to Contact in Context?

There is no fee to submit manuscripts to Contact in Context.  There is also no fee to read the articles published by Contact in Context.

Q: Who may submit a paper?

A: Submissions are encouraged from anyone with a scientific interest in SETI, the search for life anywhere in the universe,  life sciences, psychological sciences, or other areas of science and engineering. Amateurs have long been noted for their contributions to astronomy, for example, and Contact in Context will review submissions from anyone who has something useful to say. A terminal degree in a particular discipline is not necessarily a requirement for authorship.   Manuscripts must be submitted in readable English.

Q: Can articles be reposted elsewhere?

The licensing terms selected by the author determine the parameters for reuse.  If the author has not already printed a Creative Commons license notice on the paper itself, CIC will publish the work using the Attribution CC BY license.

Q: Can articles preprinted on a preprint server be later submitted to Contact in Context?  

Yes, as long as the copyright on the preprint allows it.  Please cite and include a link to the preprint. 

Q: How rapid is publication on Contact in Context?

Publication typically take place 2-3 days after submission of manuscripts and reviews.

Q: What happened to the peer reviews for the older papers?

Due to the change in copyright processes, the original peer reviews are not available from the time period before the journal switched to the post-publication peer review format.