How to Propose a Special Topic?

Submit your proposals for a TATuP Special Topic to redaktion@tatup.de by sending an abstract (preferably written in English) of max. 2.5 pages that provides information on

• working title for the Special Topic,
• names and institutional affiliations of cooperating Special Topic guest editors,
• the relevance of the Special Topic for the journal’s TA profile (e.g. problem oriented research, interdisciplinarity, methods, international perspectives, policy advice etc.),
• the central research questions,
• the disciplines, or scientific communities addressed by the special topic.

Every issue of TATuP features a "Special Topic" section containing a number of thematically related research articles with high significance for the field of technology assessment, for example new technologies and their applications, theories, or methods of technology assessment. "Special Topic" guest editors will be confirmed by the journal's editorial board, based on the originality and relevance of their proposal.

The "Special Topic" section explores a specific field of technology assessment with around six peer-reviewed research articles from different disciplinary perspectives. The editorial process begins about 12 months prior to publication with an open call for abstracts to recruit potential authors.

The "Special Topic" features prominently on the journal’s cover, with a headline and an illustration and it receives its own DOI. This means that the Special Topic with you as Special Topic guest editor gains high visibility in the journal and is bibliographically referenced in the journal and associated data bases.

Profile, Tasks and Responsibilities of Special Topic guest editors

"Special Topic" guest editors are qualified by their expertise in a specific field of technology assessment. TATuP particularly welcomes teams whose members are based at different universities and/or non-university research institutes or who work in different disciplines. The guest editors hold authority over the scientific content of the journal section "Special Topic" for one issue: this involves authoring the call for abstracts, evaluating submitted abstracts, selecting authors to submit a full research article and authoring an introductory chapter to the "Special Topic". The selected research articles as well as the introductory chapter may be published in English or German. In cooperation with the journal’s editorial team, the guest editors manage the editorial process, including the review process together with the external reviewers, until the final acceptance/rejection decision.

Please check the archive for a list of past TATuP Special Topics!