BioOptics World delivers to the life sciences market—researchers, system builders, and clinicians—timely and useful information on optics and photonics and related technologies and topics. BioOptics World shows readers how to apply light-based and optical technologies, both hardware and software tools, to accomplish objectives related to system design, research, diagnosis, and treatment.

BioOptics World educates this audience on the operation of new technologies and their application to life sciences; the novel application of existing technologies; and products and news critical to their work. We accomplish this through multiple media: a bimonthly magazine; newsletters, webcasts, and white papers; and continuously updated websites.

Articles

BioOptics World seeks articles written by subject matter experts. Some are based on research reported in journal papers, but since the BioOptics World audience is usually more broad, articles tend to focus on technologies, application outcomes, and future potential—not on details of experiments.

BioOptics World articles explain operational theories and practices as well as technology application, and clarify the impact of policy, technology, and industry developments—explaining how all these factors affect the work of life sciences research and the diagnosis and treatment of disease. We seek content that helps readers solve problems in their day-to-day work and prepare for the future by explaining the benefits of new hardware, software, workflows, and trends.

While BioOptics World articles can run from 400 – 2,000 words, most features are about 1,500 words. A BioOptics World article will explain the need for and impact of the subject being discussed, often putting it in context of previously available solutions and discussing drawbacks it overcomes. Technology articles will supply technical detail on the operating principles, and discuss specifics of one or more applications. We encourage the use of detailed examples to help illustrate points. References should guide readers to journal papers that discuss key related developments, but generally each article includes no more than 15 references.

If you have an idea you think would be appropriate as a feature article for BioOptics World, we recommend contacting the editor with an abstract that summarizes the major points (Barbara G. Goode, barbarag@pennwell.com, 603-891-9194). If your idea is accepted, we will work with you on details such as deadline and length. 

Announcements

The easiest way to work with BioOptics World is to send us announcements of new developments (research, products, and important industry happenings). BioOptics World welcomes your new product announcement (a clear description of the product, its benefits and pertinent operation details, along with targeted applications; a .doc file is best) with one or more images showing the product and/or the results it enables (see below for image guidelines). Please send these files to bowproducts@pennwell.com.

We also welcome news of research and developments of all types for our News & Notes department. Our End Result section features novel and offbeat applications of lasers, optics, or imaging in the life sciences. Please forward these types of news to bownews@pennwell.com.

Images are important!

Every contribution to BioOptics World must include imagery: At least one figure for a short story, and 3-5 figures for a feature. A figure can be a single graphic or include multiple components, such as photos, diagrams, and graphs—but in every case the figure must be accompanied by a caption that helps the reader understand exactly what he/she is looking at.

• Photos: we require 300-dpi resolution at least 2.5 x 3 inches in .tif, .eps, or .jpg formats. Images embedded in Word documents are not acceptable.
• Charts, tables, and graphs: These visuals often need to re-created by the art department to be formatted correctly, which is a time-consuming process. Please submit charts, tables, and graphs as early as possible (before your assignment deadline whenever possible).
• We also encourage videos and slide shows (generally 5 minutes or less) that augment written content. We can accept videos that have embedded coding from sharing sites such as YouTube and Flickr, as well as native video files. We prefer .flv format, but can accept most other formats as well.
• Files too large for e-mailing can be placed on our FTP server; contact the editor for details.

Contact us!

Have questions? Let us help:

Lee Mather, Associate Editor
leem@pennwell.com
603-891-9116

Barbara G. Goode, Editor in Chief
barbarag@pennwell.com
603-891-9194