The Young Australians Science Journal (YASJ) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal created to showcase the originality and talent of young scientists. We provide a space where high school students can share their research with the wider scientific community and experience authentic academic publishing.
Our Mission
As a volunteer-run, not-for-profit, Diamond Open Access journal (no fees for authors or readers), our aim is to:
- Provide a reputable and high-quality outlet for the publication of student-led scientific research, celebrating the novelty, significance, insight, and enthusiasm that young investigators bring to the global scientific community.
- Give science students accessible opportunities to participate authentically in the full practice of academic science.
- Foster an inclusive and supportive environment that values diversity and the importance of diverse perspectives, helping to reduce barriers to STEM participation
- Promote understanding of peer review as an essential part of scientific inquiry, supporting students to develop their skills, confidence, and identity within the scientific community.
Scope of the Journal
We publish original, hypothesis-driven scientific research conducted by students. This can include:
- Experimental studies
- Observational studies
- Analyses of existing or publicly available data
What matters most is that the research is:
- Scientifically valid and reliable
- Clearly communicated and well-structured
- Makes a meaningful contribution to scientific understanding
We also value replication and confirmation studies, as well as the insights gained from negative or unexpected results.
At this time, we do not publish literature reviews, essays or descriptions of inventions without a scientific investigation.
Who Can Submit?
YASJ celebrates research undertaken by students enrolled in Australian high schools. The first author must have been enrolled in an Australian high school when the research was undertaken and made a substantial contribution to conducting the research and writing the manuscript. Students who have since graduated remain eligible, and collaborative projects may recognise multiple equal first authors.
Research is often collaborative, and we encourage students to recognise the contributions of teachers, mentors, fellow students and researchers through appropriate authorship or acknowledgements.
Adult co-authors are encouraged where their contributions warrant authorship, but are not required. Students under 18 must nominate a responsible adult to support them through the publication process, and additional contact details may be requested to verify eligibility.
See our Submissions guide for information about eligibility, authorship and how to submit.
Our Reviewers and Readers
YASJ reviewers include researchers, higher degree research (HDR) students and educators with research experience who volunteer their time and expertise to support student research. We aim to match reviewers with manuscripts relevant to their expertise and may invite additional specialists or seek further expert input where needed.
Our editorial team manages the review process and screens feedback to ensure it is constructive, supportive and fair. We greatly value our reviewers' contributions to maintaining scientific quality while helping young researchers develop their skills and confidence in scientific publishing.
As an open-access journal, everything published in YASJ is freely available to anyone. Our readers include students, teachers, researchers and members of the wider community, all sharing in the discoveries made by young Australian scientists.