Embedded Files
Introduction to the Symposium introduce the topic of SICB symposia to the reader. This article is often authored by the symposium organizers. Please note that ICB no longer requires an Introduction to the Symposium.
Is a separate Introduction to the Symposium required?
ICB recommends that symposium organizers provide an Introduction article. ICB no longer requires such an Introduction to the Symposium.
purpose, format, submission, and review process
purpose, format, submission, and review process
The purpose of the Introduction is to
introduce the reader to the topic of the symposium (brief primer for newcomers, summary that points out the cutting edge for expert readers)
be forward looking (where we are and where we are headed?)
provide a cohesive framework that shows how the symposium articles are more than the sum of their parts
The length of the Introduction is half the length of a full symposium article, typically 6 to 7 pages.
Below are described three different formats that Introductions typically follow.
Introductions are typically reviewed only by the editorial board and are not sent out for peer review.
Introductions should be submitted by March 31, which is several months after the symposium-paper deadline. This way, you have time to look at the manuscripts from your symposium to help you write your Introduction. You might want to ask the authors to send you their (final) drafts.
introduction formats
introduction formats
Introductions are typically written as a perspective or review paper, and range widely in scope. We encourage symposium organizers to consider several ways to generate strong Introductions described below.
option 1: Build on existing material
option 1: Build on existing material
Re-use your symposium proposal plus the Introduction talk that you gave to kick off the symposium.
Ideally, the Introduction addresses the following questions:
Introduction of topic: what is this symposium about?
See your talk introducing the symposium.
Relevance: why is this an important topic?
See your symposium proposal ('rationale').
Timeliness: why is it important to talk about this topic now?
See your symposium proposal ('timeliness').
Framework: how do all these symposium papers come together to form more than the sum of their parts? Create a narrative or framework that encompasses the symposium papers to help the readers understand how the symposium papers form a cohesive vision that moves the symposium topic forward.
See your symposium proposal ('outline of program').
All examples below are of this type 1.
option 2: Re-use bookend chapters of a recent PhD thesis
option 2: Re-use bookend chapters of a recent PhD thesis
ICB encourages recently graduated PhDs to consider publishing their thesis’ General Introduction and General Discussion in ICB by turning them into a review/perspective type paper to be submitted as a review paper within a symposium or as the Introduction to a symposium.
option 3: Collaborate with symposium speakers or panel members
option 3: Collaborate with symposium speakers or panel members
Occasionally, (some or all) symposium organizers, speakers, and / or members of a panel get together to co-write the Introduction to the symposium. Introduction may reflect conversations during a panel discussion or round table that was part of the symposium.
Example introductions
Example introductions
solid all-rounder: Becker, D. J., Downs, C. J., & Martin, L. B. (2019). Multi-scale drivers of immunological variation and consequences for infectious disease dynamics. ICB, 59(5), 1129-1137.
brief and hitting the important points: Muñoz, M. M., & Price, S. A. (2019). The future is bright for evolutionary morphology and biomechanics in the era of big data. ICB, 59(3), 599-603.
ambitious and thorough: Russell, A. P., Stark, A. Y., & Higham, T. E. (2019). The integrative biology of gecko adhesion: historical review, current understanding, and grand challenges. ICB, 59(1), 101-116.
sharing your vision: Williams, C.M., Ragland, G.J., Betini, G., Buckley, L.B., Cheviron, Z.A., Donohue, K., Hereford, J., Humphries, M.M., Lisovski, S., Marshall, K.E. and Schmidt, P.S. (2017). Understanding evolutionary impacts of seasonality: An introduction to the symposium. ICB, 57(5), pp.921-933.
shifting disciplinary boundaries: ElShafie S.J., Sumida S.S. (2018). Science through narrative: engaging broad audiences—an introduction to the symposium. ICB, 58(6):1204-12.
A straight-forward way to write an Introduction is to follow the format described as Type 1 and do the ‘provide a framework’ part by creating a narrative that strings together brief summaries of each paper in your symposium.
straight-forward: Hayssen, V., & Orr, T. J. (2020). Introduction to “Reproduction: The Female Perspective from an Integrative and Comparative Framework”.
Page updated
Report abuse