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To all IEM Southern Branchmembers:
IEM HQ Publication and Information Standing Committee has decided that our Bulletin Jurutera for April 2010 issue will be dedicated for IEM (SouthernBranch).
(Please note that IEM SB is the first branch to be given the honour to be featured inthe special issue for IEM Branches).
The cover story, which will be written by the bulletin editors of IEM andDimension Publishing, will feature highlight of relevant engineering activitiesin Johor, e.g. on the Iskandar Development Region.
The bulletin editorial team and IEM Southern branch committee wuld like towelcome all interested IEM(SB) members to submit an article of interest forconsideration to be published in this April 2010 issue.
A general guideline on the write-up is given below. * * * * * Editor's Corner (Source: Buletin Jurutera Jan 2010)
Guidelines!
by Engr. Dr Yeoh Hak Koon, Grad. IEM Bulletin Editor, Standing Committee on Information and Publications
Typical of engineers, we want things done according to standards andspecifications, in time and within budget.
So it is not unexpected that when it comes to the art of writing and thecomplementary art of vetting somebody else’s writing, again you ask forguidelines.
Since we are not writing for the Nobel Prize, having some guidelines should betolerable and reasonable.
To kick off 2010, here they are.
Before you write (or rather type) anything, think about this: is Jurutera theappropriate forum?
Is the subject matter of general interest to engineers in your discipline, orbetter still, to most engineers?
Or is it so technical and scholarly that the IEM Journal is a better outlet?
Is it an original piece, not a copy-and-paste product (you have been warned!)?
Once you are convinced that you do have something for Jurutera, make it shortand crispy.
A printed page (not what you see on your screen) takes up 800 words, figuresand tables will reduce that number further.
Aim for two printed pages (more is fine if necessary); that alone is about16000 pieces of paper.
Many trees are at your mercy! Before sending your email, take another look atthe quality of the writing, the flow of thought and the language (English or Bahasa Malaysia only).
If you are not sure, get a trusted one to be the devil’s advocate. Lastly, haveyou included your photo and membership grade (e.g. MIEM, P.Eng.)?
On passing a preliminary screening, your piece will be assigned to a TechnicalDivision (TD) for vetting. Your authorship will be concealed throughout thereview process.
The TD will judge your contribution on its merits alone, reading it not asexperts, but as peers.
If civil engineers cannot understand a piece about civil engineering matters,then probably engineers from other disciplines will have no clue!
Similarly, if peers find the article wanting, then it is not good enough.
Generous reviewers will list down or mark out in the softcopy all areas forimprovement, while most others will deliver a brief judgement.
The editorial team strongly prefers the former, as otherwise it will bedifficult for us to tell you what the problems are.
If you hear from Engr. Abi Sofian, then there is hope, because he handlesrevisions until the manuscript receives the final verdict from the TD(s).
When you hear from me, that only means acceptance or rejection, nothing inbetween.
The last guideline: be patient with volunteers! |
