Dont' be too happy! Today I forward the message to Clive. He quickly replied that it may have been sent to 'loads of people'(see below) who have published on a journal. While contributing to a book chapter is ok but don't take the request for book/journal ideas too serious. It's quite reasonable. Lets see if I can squeeze some time to rewrite my previous publications.
***********************************
Hi Alex,
The offer to publish a book chapter for a collected works volume is clearly related to the article you published. This could be OK but I would normally check the publisher and the person requesting my work. I would normally expect to know both. If I do not or cannot substantiate their credentials then I would leave it well alone. There are many speculative commercial entrepreneurs out there who send these things out.
The request for book ideas shows this is some standard form mailing they have sent out to loads of people. This is a basic request for a book proposal. Just ignore this as if you were about to publish a book you would send a proposal to several publishers and see who came back to you with the best offer, or select a good publisher who you felt would be best and then send them your proposal. I have never heard of Nova publishers. So ignore this they are just mailing loads of people who have published in Energy Policy.
On the chapter. This may be OK but also sounds a bit funny. See if you can substantiate who they are first. I suspect this may just be a waste of your time. You would be better writing-up things for journal articles through a standard peer review process.
By the way, book chapters are normally just accepted by the editor with no peer review but editorial feedback.
Clive
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
An invitation
Today I received an email from a publisher (see below). Actually it is an invitation for submitting a manuscript to be published in an edited book. I am also invited to throw out some ideas about publishing a stand-alone book or initiating an academic journal. That's interesting. I really want to see a journal of ecological economics for Asia/East Asia.
But I am extremely busy these few months. How can I do so many 'big' things within a short period of time?
**************************************
Dear Dr. Lo,
We have learned of your published research on energy policy. We would like to invite your participation in our publishing program. In particular, I have in mind a new research or review article for an edited collection (invitation only) being assembled under my direction tentatively entitled “Energy Policy: Economic Effects, Security Aspects and Environmental Issues.” The contributions for this edited book are intended to range from 4,000-35,000 words. If you are interested in participating, please consult the Notes for Contributors at the bottom of this letter.
Should your schedule not allow a full contribution at this time, we would welcome either a Commentary or Short Communication of 1,000-4,000 words.
The Commentary should deal with innovative ideas, developments, directions, misdirections, areas which need to be explored, future outlook, prior errors, problems, personnel, funding, or trends in the field which will be published separately under your name in a section titled Expert Commentary. The deadlines for the abstract for the Commentary and the full Commentary are the same as for regular articles. Please be sure to list the affiliations of the authors. References and figures are permitted without limitation.
Short Communications are also subject to the abstract requirement and submission guidelines and deadlines. References and figures are permitted without limitation.
Publication is about 6-9 months after the close of the volume. As soon as a book is listed on our website ( www.novapublishers.com), the codes in the status field are changed to indicate the production stages through publication.
We also invite you to consider serving as the editor of a new collected work under your own auspices (Book Idea Form is available) or by proposing a:
1. Research or review paper of 40,000 words or more for stand-alone
softcover book
2. New online or paper journal idea (open access – personal access free and no charge to publish)
3. Monograph ranging ideally from 70,000-150,000 words
4. Textbook (targeted adoption),
5. Custom publishing project
6. Lecture Notes for publication
7. Conference Proceedings (including Webinars)
We would welcome the opportunity of working with you.
I look forward to learning your thoughts on this idea.
Sincerely yours,
Frank Columbus
President and Editor-in-Chief
Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
400 Oser Avenue, Suite 1600
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel: 631- 231-7269
Fax: 631-231-8175
Mobile (direct): 631-741-2210
But I am extremely busy these few months. How can I do so many 'big' things within a short period of time?
**************************************
Dear Dr. Lo,
We have learned of your published research on energy policy. We would like to invite your participation in our publishing program. In particular, I have in mind a new research or review article for an edited collection (invitation only) being assembled under my direction tentatively entitled “Energy Policy: Economic Effects, Security Aspects and Environmental Issues.” The contributions for this edited book are intended to range from 4,000-35,000 words. If you are interested in participating, please consult the Notes for Contributors at the bottom of this letter.
Should your schedule not allow a full contribution at this time, we would welcome either a Commentary or Short Communication of 1,000-4,000 words.
The Commentary should deal with innovative ideas, developments, directions, misdirections, areas which need to be explored, future outlook, prior errors, problems, personnel, funding, or trends in the field which will be published separately under your name in a section titled Expert Commentary. The deadlines for the abstract for the Commentary and the full Commentary are the same as for regular articles. Please be sure to list the affiliations of the authors. References and figures are permitted without limitation.
Short Communications are also subject to the abstract requirement and submission guidelines and deadlines. References and figures are permitted without limitation.
Publication is about 6-9 months after the close of the volume. As soon as a book is listed on our website ( www.novapublishers.com), the codes in the status field are changed to indicate the production stages through publication.
We also invite you to consider serving as the editor of a new collected work under your own auspices (Book Idea Form is available) or by proposing a:
1. Research or review paper of 40,000 words or more for stand-alone
softcover book
2. New online or paper journal idea (open access – personal access free and no charge to publish)
3. Monograph ranging ideally from 70,000-150,000 words
4. Textbook (targeted adoption),
5. Custom publishing project
6. Lecture Notes for publication
7. Conference Proceedings (including Webinars)
We would welcome the opportunity of working with you.
I look forward to learning your thoughts on this idea.
Sincerely yours,
Frank Columbus
President and Editor-in-Chief
Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
400 Oser Avenue, Suite 1600
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel: 631- 231-7269
Fax: 631-231-8175
Mobile (direct): 631-741-2210
Friday, April 18, 2008
The presentation yesterday
Yesterday I gave a presentation on my project in the our departmental seminar. Quite successful. The audience (classmates and a few teachers) were astonished at my progress - while others present the methodology of their project I already got data and some analysis. It is just 8 months since I started my work. Althoug their response was very positive, I can still find rooms for improvement, like the amount of information. My supervisor gave me quite positve comments, except my 'informative' powerpoint that made people difficult to get my message. It is because I put too much information on every slide and moved too fast, there was not enough time for people to digest. It was too detailed in some sections, and too complext for those who know little about this field. And I agreed, it looked a bit messy comparing to the first presenter (I was the second). Obviously I need to make a lot of changes before I give a much shorter presentation next Saturaday.
Friday, April 11, 2008
My IELTS result
my IELTS released:
Listening 7.5
Reading 8.5
Writing 6.5
Speaking 6.5
Overall Band 7.5
A few months ago I took the General Training module while this time Academic module. They are only slightly different in Reading and Writing.
Last time I got 7.0, 8.5, 6.5 and 7.0 respectively. This proves that my Writing and Speaking is still weak - perhaps I am not good at 'expressing' my ideas (Yes, I am, even using Chinese, but it is fairly important for an academic because we often need to write and present our findings!)
Listening 7.5
Reading 8.5
Writing 6.5
Speaking 6.5
Overall Band 7.5
A few months ago I took the General Training module while this time Academic module. They are only slightly different in Reading and Writing.
Last time I got 7.0, 8.5, 6.5 and 7.0 respectively. This proves that my Writing and Speaking is still weak - perhaps I am not good at 'expressing' my ideas (Yes, I am, even using Chinese, but it is fairly important for an academic because we often need to write and present our findings!)
Monday, April 7, 2008
Preparing for my PhD (3)
Now I have a chance to get my MPhil thesis finished before moving to Australia to do the PhD.
Last month when I talked to my MPhil supervisor I was told that I have to quit (asap) the MPhil programme if I decide to accept this PhD scholarship offer. But I met him last week. Because I have already completed data collection for my project, he suggested me to raise a special request (via him) to the HKU Graduate School for submitting the thesis earlier, i.e. early September 08 (about one year earlier than normal case). After submitting the thesis I can go Australia immediately (but have to go back HK to do an oral defence at the end of 2008). That means if I can work hard (very hard indeed!), I can get the MPhil degree while doing the PhD.
My prospective supervisor who gives me the PhD scholarship offer agreed this in principle. I promise him to complete the thesis within next five months. It's hard but not impossible to me.
So, starting from today, I will keep working and reduce sleepign tmie to no more than six hours every day except holiday. Let see if I can break our department's record!
Last month when I talked to my MPhil supervisor I was told that I have to quit (asap) the MPhil programme if I decide to accept this PhD scholarship offer. But I met him last week. Because I have already completed data collection for my project, he suggested me to raise a special request (via him) to the HKU Graduate School for submitting the thesis earlier, i.e. early September 08 (about one year earlier than normal case). After submitting the thesis I can go Australia immediately (but have to go back HK to do an oral defence at the end of 2008). That means if I can work hard (very hard indeed!), I can get the MPhil degree while doing the PhD.
My prospective supervisor who gives me the PhD scholarship offer agreed this in principle. I promise him to complete the thesis within next five months. It's hard but not impossible to me.
So, starting from today, I will keep working and reduce sleepign tmie to no more than six hours every day except holiday. Let see if I can break our department's record!
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