NYCSEA

Guidelines for Authors: Scope of the Submissions

NYCSEA , 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. NYCSEA 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, NYCSEA 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 NYCSEA are ultimately accepted by the by the editorial board for the students' presentation. The standards of NYCSEA’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

Experimental Science


The experiment should measure variables using quantifiable values whenever possible. Examples include count, percentage, length, width, weight, voltage, velocity, energy, and time. A variable may also represent the presence or absence of a condition, such as using light versus no light or fertilizer versus no fertilizer. Scientific progress should be measurable.

Control other factors that could affect the experiment. In a well-designed experimental test, only the independent variable should be intentionally changed while other relevant conditions are kept as consistent as possible. Always ensure that your experiment can be performed safely.

• Make sure the necessary materials are accessible, affordable, and obtainable within your available time.
• Allow enough time to complete the experiment, including growing, preparation, observation, and testing periods when applicable.
• Make sure your project meets the rules and requirements for your specific research category.
• Choose a research topic that is scientifically meaningful, feasible, and appropriate for the available resources.
• If your proposed experiment cannot reasonably meet these requirements, consider modifying or selecting a different topic.
• Projects involving human participants, vertebrate animals, animal tissues, potentially hazardous biological agents, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, or controlled/hazardous substances may require review and approval before experimentation. Consult your teacher, research coordinator, and applicable Scientific Review Committee (SRC) requirements.

Guidance on Creating the Research Paper:

• State the title and purpose of the project.
• Explain how the idea for the project originated.
• Describe how the idea developed into an investigation, experiment, or prototype.
• Describe the procedures and methods used.
• Explain how the data were collected and recorded.
• Present and analyze the data using appropriate tables, graphs, figures, or other evidence to support your findings.
• State your conclusion and explain how the evidence supports it.
• Describe what you learned from conducting the project.
• Explain what you would change or improve if you conducted the project again.

📑 Research Paper Evaluation Rubric

peer‑review & editorial decision tool

Comprehensive criteria for acceptance/rejection — each category includes scoring input (0 to max points). Total updates automatically.

Category	Max Points	Criteria & Score Input
1. Title accuracy	5	5: Title precisely reflects scope, variables, main finding. 3: Vague or omits key element. 1: Misleading or irrelevant. ✏️ Score (0–5):
2. Abstract quality	15	15: Clear objectives, brief methods, quantitative results, conclusion. 10: Missing one element. 5: Vague or omits ≥2 elements. 0: Absent or incomprehensible. ✏️ Score (0–15):
3. Introduction	10	10: Grabs interest, background, gap, hypothesis. 7: Missing one component. 4: Poorly organized, no clear hypothesis. 0: No introduction / off-topic. ✏️ Score (0–10):
4. Structure & overall content	20	20: Logical IMRaD, clear tables/figures, supports aims. 15: Minor issues (e.g. one figure unclear). 10: Significant disorganization. 5: Very difficult to follow / missing figures. ✏️ Score (0–20):
5. Conclusion / Discussion	20	20: Summarizes findings, interprets, limitations, impact. 15: Missing one element. 10: Restates results without interpretation. 5: No conclusion or speculation. ✏️ Score (0–20):
6. English grammar	10	10: Flawless grammar, professional tone. 7: 1–2 typos or minor errors. 4: Frequent errors impair understanding. 0: Unreadable. ✏️ Score (0–10):
7. Novelty & advance in the field	20	20: Clearly novel (first report, new mechanism). 15: Incremental novelty. 10: Confirms known results. 5: No novelty / replicates prior work. 0: Outdated/disproven. ✏️ Score (0–20):

90–100

✅ Accept as is

Publish without changes

75–89

📝 Minor revision

Small clarifications/fixes

60–74

🔁 Major revision

Substantial rewriting

40–59

⚠️ Reject & resubmit

Major new experiments

0–39

❌ Reject outright

No advance / fatal errors

📋 Example: Title:4, Abstract:12, Intro:8, Structure:14, Conclusion:16, Grammar:9, Novelty:10 → Total 73 → Major revision   💡 Click "Load example" to auto-fill.

⟳ Reset scores📋 Load example (73pts)