Information about publication paths for early career researchers
I encourage you to submit short papers if you plan an academic path. This is because you can extend them to journal articles, whilst long papers you usually can’t because the work has already been published. Some journals don’t allow republishing at all. However, many accept at least a minimum 50% extension.
In most countries, it matters whether you published a conference paper or a journal article. Some countries signed onto the DORA Declaration, which states that it shouldn’t matter whether the work is a conference paper or journal article and that we should eliminate journal-based metrics.
Nonetheless, it always does matter. It greatly affects your career when applying for jobs or grants, etc.
Papers and your academic path
However, I truly encourage you to submit to conferences as well. This is for lively discussions, networking and socialising. You need to build a network of colleagues with who you collaborate, submit for grants, organise events, co-author, etc. Such things typically happen at conferences. Short papers or presentations are sufficient and more effective because people can directly see your work.
At least within the European context, always publish open access (OA). Typically, you cannot put other publications on your publications list when submitting a grant proposal in Europe. Therefore, your CV is affected. SDA journal, by now, doesn’t charge any OA publication fee. Few other journals, such as those formerly collaborated, don’t charge publication fees or are related to SDA, such as FormAkademisk, She Ji, Strategic Design Research Journal or Enacting Cybernetics. Also, many university libraries pay for the OA publication fee if requested. Ask your library!
I encourage you to look at SDA’s publication spiral. You can develop a project idea into a full article by getting constant feedback. A short paper/presentation at the RSD symposium is an excellent place to start. The program committee groups presentations with others for a session that brings similar or contrasting research together and allows ample time for feedback and discussion on your work.
I truly wish you good luck with your publishing and your career development!
Dr Marie Davidová | MArch MNAL PhD SFHEA
Independent Junior Research Group Leader
Systemic Design Association Board Member
University of Stuttgart
Cluster of Excellence IntCDC
Seidenstraße 36
70174 Stuttgart
+491728630806
