Faraday Discussion meetings FAQs

How is the programme selected?

The scientific committee develops the scientific programme for the meeting, which contains both invited and contributed talks/papers. The scientific committee selects the contributed speakers from the highest quality submitted abstracts that fit with the themes of the meeting.

Do I have to submit a paper to present at a Faraday Discussion?

Yes; everyone in the programme must submit a full research paper before the meeting, except the closing remarks speaker, who submits their paper after the meeting. If you are not presenting a paper you can still contribute to the discussion at the meeting (see below).

I am not presenting a paper, so how can I make a contribution?

All delegates at the meeting, not just speakers, have the opportunity to make comments, ask questions, or present complementary or contradictory measurements and calculations during the discussion. These contributions are known as 'discussion remarks'. If it is relevant to the topic, delegates may give a five-minute presentation of their own work during the discussion. These remarks are published alongside the papers in the final volume and are fully citable. We do not record the discussion verbatim, so the published record contains what the contributors said, or think they said or wished they had said.

We encourage delegates to display posters at the meeting. There may be an opportunity for selected poster presenters to give 30 seconds lightening talks at the invitation of the committee.

What does an oral presentation at a Faraday Discussion involve?

Speakers at Faraday Discussions must submit a research paper that contains a significant amount of new, unpublished research four-five months before the meeting. At the meeting speakers have five minutes to highlight the most important aspects of yourtheir paper, which is then followed by 25 minutes' discussion per paper amongst the delegates.  

Why are the papers submitted in advance?

The research papers are reviewed and then provided to delegates as 'pre-prints' about a month before the meeting. This gives delegates the opportunity to read each paper and prepare comments and questions for the discussion in advance. The majority of the meeting focuses on discussion of the key issues underlying and connecting the presented papers.  

I am writing a paper, what should I consider?

A Faraday Discussion paper must contain a significant amount of new and unpublished research; review-type articles are not accepted. The only difference from a typical research paper is that some remarks that may be open to interpretation can be included, stimulating discussion at the meeting.

We inform all authors of the exact deadline for manuscript submission when their oral abstract is accepted; the deadline is normally four-five months before the meeting. It is imperative that authors meet the submission deadline. The papers adhere to a strict timetable so preprints can be generated and circulated to participants before the meeting. Papers not sent out before the meeting will not be discussed or included in the published volume.

As a guide, Faraday Discussion papers can be 5,000–8,000 words of text, plus tables and figures (or 8–15 pages). Manuscripts should be submitted to arrive on or before the submission deadline. MS Word and LaTeX templates are available from our Author templates & services page (although their use is not compulsory). Papers that are accepted must not be published elsewhere except by permission of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Authors should ensure that a manuscript is submitted for publication in only one journal at a time. Further details are available from the editorial office.

Are the papers peer reviewed?

Yes; the Faraday Discussion papers are peer reviewed before the meeting. The scientific committee reviews the research papers and decides whether the paper is to be included in the programme and subsequent volume. The committee checks that the paper is within the scope of the meeting, and that it contains enough new material to promote useful discussion. Revisions may be requested prior to acceptance – in a sense, the 'real' refereeing takes place at the Faraday Discussion meeting, and discussion comments could be considered referee comments.  

What is the procedure at the meeting?

At the meeting it is assumed that the papers have already been read, so the presenting authors have only five minutes to summarise the main points. The chair of each session will then open the discussion. Participants are free to question the authors, to present results that confirm or raise doubts about the work presented, and to make links with other relevant work. Authors have the opportunity to respond to the comments. Each person that asks a question or makes a comment (a 'discussion remark') has a maximum of five minutes and, at the end of the particular discussion session, the author is given the final five minutes if required.

Edited discussion remarks will be published in the final Faraday Discussions volume for the meeting. We do not record the discussion verbatim; instead, delegates should submit their comments and questions using the web forum as described at the meeting.

Are there posters at the meeting?

Yes; we encourage delegates to display posters at the meeting. The closing date for poster abstracts is around 10 weeks before the meeting date. The scientific committee selects the posters based on the poster abstracts. There may be an opportunity for selected poster presenters to give 30 seconds lightening talks at the invitation of the committee.

A list of poster titles and authors will be included in the relevant Faraday Discussions volume. A book of poster abstracts is also available in the delegate packs at the meeting. Prize(s) are awarded to the best poster(s).

Is the general discussion published?

Yes. The Faraday Discussions journal is a record of the entire meeting. The papers presented at a Faraday Discussion appear alongside the general discussion remarks (those that the contributors said, or think they said or wished they had said). Every delegate has the opportunity to make a major contribution and to be published.

The discussion is not recorded verbatim. If you ask any questions or make any comments during the Faraday Discussion meeting, you will receive a numbered proforma with some keywords from your question or comment. You should then submit the full text of your question or comment to the web forum.

The editor reserves the right to decide whether a contribution is appropriate. After the meeting, proofs of discussion remarks are circulated to all participants, when final corrections may be made. The final Faraday Discussions volume is usually published approximately five months after the meeting.

What is the timeline of a Faraday Discussion?

*Authors have the opportunity to opt in to publication of their unedited manuscript as an Accepted Manuscript once it has been reviewed and accepted for publication and presentation at the meeting. The official publication date of an article is the date when the accepted manuscript version is published and the Accepted Manuscript can be cited using the Digital Object Identifier (DOI®). More information on Accepted Manuscripts and associated policies may be found here: http://www.rsc.org/journals-books-databases/journal-authors-reviewers/processes-policies/#accepted-manuscripts

 When will my paper be published?

The Accepted Manuscript (author supplied, unedited) version of the article can be published online following review and acceptance for publication/presentation at the Faraday Discussion. On average this would be around four-five weeks following submission of the article. More information on Accepted Manuscripts and associated policies may be found here: http://www.rsc.org/journals-books-databases/journal-authors-reviewers/processes-policies/#accepted-manuscripts

A proof of the prepared files will be sent to the corresponding author for them to check after the meeting takes place, and prior to publication in the final form. Following the receipt of any corrections the “Advance Article” is usually published within 48 hours of proofs being returned. The “Advance Article” is the final scientific version of record and replaces the “accepted manuscript” online with the same DOI.

The complete volume, including both the articles and the general discussion from the meeting, is published online approximately four months after the event, and in print a further one month after that. 

Do you have funding available for me to attend?

Yes; we provide conference bursaries of £200 for student members and members in the early stages of their career (typically within five years of completing a first or postgraduate degree) who do not have support available from their employer or a research grant. The bursary provides funding for registration, accommodation, or travel costs. See the registration page of each meeting for more details.