Aims and scope

Polar Record is an e-only international, peer-reviewed, scholarly journal published six times a year by Cambridge University Press. Polar Record publishes results from a wide variety of areas of polar research: original primary research papers and reviews in the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, life sciences, and polar technology are included, as are papers concerning current political, economic, legal, and environmental issues in the Arctic or Antarctic. Notes, commentaries, book reviews, letters to the editor, guest editorials, obituaries, and ‘In Brief’ items of general interest are also published.

Polar Record aims to provide rapid publication, with accepted papers being published in FirstView within a month after acceptance and then being allocated to the next available issue. The purpose of this guide is to introduce authors to the format and style used by Polar Record. Authors are urged to read these instructions carefully, because following the journal’s style will minimise the need for editorial change and extra communication with the authors, thus speeding up the final publication of submissions.

Article Types

Polar Record publishes:

• Book Review
• Brief Reviews
• Commentary
• Note*
• Research Article*
• Research Note*
• Review Article*
• Correspondence
• In Brief*
• Conference Report

Categories of papers

Original research articles

This category is intended for full-scale studies of between 9,000 and 12,000 words in length.

Reviews

Polar Record will publish scholarly, comprehensive reviews that summarise and critically evaluate research in the field, addressing and identifying future implications. Reviews may be invited by the Editors but may also be submitted. Authors wishing to submit papers in this category are advised to contact the Editors before doing so.

Commentaries

Papers in this section provide readers of Polar Record with focused, view-point coverage of topical issues which are of high current interest. Articles of this type will be invited but may also be submitted. Authors wishing to submit articles for this section are asked to consult with the Editors. Acceptance or rejection of the commentary is at the discretion of the Editors, and commentaries will be peer reviewed. Also, the Editors may request or allow a response to the commentary.

Book reviews

If you have a book you would like to see reviewed in Polar Record, in the first instance, please send the following information including the title, authors, publisher and blurb to the Book Reviews Editor, Yulia Zaika  for consideration.

Polar Record applies a double-anonymous peer review process for manuscripts. We value our reviewers and thank you for your contributions to the success of Polar Record.