Materials Literature Review Masterclass & Prize 2010

The 2010 Literature Review Prize is being jointly awarded by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the UK Centre for Materials Education (UKCME). Its aim is to encourage definitive, critical reviews of the literature by students as an essential part of study for a higher degree, and subsequently make the best of these available to a wider readership. It is judged by a panel appointed by the Editorial Board of the Institute’s journal Materials Science and Technology (MST), chaired by the Editor, Professor John Knott.

The Prize is open to any postgraduate studying for a materials science and engineering related qualification at a UK institution. The deadline for entries is Friday 9 October 2009. Candidates must submit:  

• a 500 word extended abstract for a literature review associated with a materials related higher degree project

• an outline structure for the review consisting of a list of section and subsection headings

•  a CV

•  a statement of support by the candidate’s supervisor

• a declaration that the review is the candidate’s own unaided work

Entries that do not fulfil these requirements will not be considered.

Note:

• The review must be on a topic appropriate for publication in MST (see the scope statement at www.maney.co.uk/journals/mst)

• Careful thought should be given to the scope, in particular the breadth of a topic that can be covered satisfactorily in 7000 words. Proposals for reviews of novel or developing areas of a topic are likely to be favoured over those of areas adequately covered by existing reviews or monographs. The abstract should seek to justify the relevance of the chosen topic 

• Requirements for a thesis introduction and an MST literature review are different. Basic theory and established knowledge must be dealt with concisely, with reference to existing reviews and textbooks. The review must be self-contained and critical (i.e. it should interpret the literature covered), must not contain reference to previously unpublished work and should seek to identify areas where further work is required to advance the field.

Up to six finalists, chosen on the basis of these abstracts, will be invited to produce full reviews by Monday 14 December 2009. These reviews should be close to final form and take account of the guidelines issued with the letter of invitation. Finalists may be invited to attend a masterclass at which they will make a short presentation to the panel of judges, followed by questions, and will receive feedback on their drafts, prior to final submission.

Final versions of the reviews, prepared after taking any feedback received into account, will be due by Tuesday 4 May 2010. The aim will be to announce the winner by the end of June 2010.

The winning review will, at the discretion of the judges and subject to referees’ comments, be published in MST or another Institute journal. In celebration of the UK Centre for Materials Education’s 10th anniversary, the 2010 prize carries an honorarium of £1000. Other commended entries that may be recommended for eventual publication will be awarded an honorarium of £100.

Submissions or enquiries concerning the prize should be addressed to: Naomi Asantewa-Sechereh, Maney Publishing, direct line 0207 451 7308, email n.asantewa@maney.co.uk.

Materials Science and Technology
An international journal published by Maney for the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
Editor Professor J F Knott, OBE, FRS, FREng
Associate Editors  Professor A. Horsewell, Professor R. D. K. Misra, Professor V. Randle,
Professor P. J. Withers, FREng
www.maney.co.uk/journals/mst