Polar Institute Insights & Analysis

Call for Submissions

• Editorial Standards

  Objective: The Polar Institute seeks to publish new perspectives on key issues in polar regions. These articles may draw attention to new or under-studied issues or bring fresh perspectives on key issues. The aim of our articles is to engage, inform, and improve.

  Authors: Our authors’ authority and expertise derive from personal experience: life experience, professional expertise, or academic study. We welcome submissions from an array of personal and professional backgrounds.

  Audience: Our readers are informed and intelligent; they include policymakers, researchers, and opinion makers as well as a large contingent of smart non-experts who are interested in the polar regions.

  Style: The Polar Institute seeks to publish relevant blogs, op-eds, book reviews, explainers, and articles. We publish authoritative, experienced, and authentic voices. Please note, we do not publish journalistic reporting. Our publication is dedicated to analysis and commentary.

  So, what’s the process?

  Format your piece: Although we seek to publish a variety of writing styles, please closely follow these formatting parameters:

  • Maximum 1500 words
  • Use hyperlinks for citations
  • Name and date in top left corner
  • Include a title
  • Include a short personal bio at the bottom of the article

  Submit the article: Send well-drafted and edited article submissions to Polar@wilsoncenter.org with the subject line "Publication Submission - [Title]." Please send submissions only as Word documents. Unfortunately, we are unable to move forward with the editing process if documents are submitted in any other format. Do not submit an article for publication if it has been submitted elsewhere, unless the previous submission has been formally withdrawn.

  Receive feedback, finalize edits: Once we have received your submission our editing team will go through the piece and note any necessary adjustments. If we accept your submission, we will email you back providing questions, comments, or constructive criticism aimed at improving the work and preparing it for final publication.

  Once the editing process is complete, you will be notified of the successful publication of your piece!

• Do's and Don'ts
  • DO - Engage your reader right from the start. Consider beginning the piece with an engaging personal anecdote, a striking fact, or a thought-provoking query.
  • DO - Write using the “bottom line up front” (BLUF) method. Have a clear and strong thesis/“so what” statement within your first or second paragraph. Make your core argument clear from the beginning, and make sure it continues to be clear and coherent throughout the entire piece.
  • DO - Use lots of evidence to back up your argument.
  • DO - Double check your facts. The editors will do their due diligence in double-checking facts as well but fundamentally it is the author’s responsibility to ensure all facts are accurate and correct.
  • DO - Be clear who your recommendations are for and who exactly you want to take action. Do not assume that your audience is from the same country you are writing from.
  • DON’T - Use jargon. Remember that your piece needs to be easily digestible for informed experts and non-experts alike. At the same time, do not assume your reader has the same knowledge as you, so make sure to explain concepts where necessary.
  • DON’T - Forget to spell out acronyms.
  • DON’T - Plagiarize. We have a zero-tolerance policy. All submissions must include original work. If plagiarism occurs, your submission will be taken down and you will be revoked the opportunity to publish with the Polar Institute in the future. Writing must be authentic. You must disclose use of generative AI tools in your research or development of the submission.