Science Advances: A Multidisciplinary Open-Access Powerhouse
In the evolving landscape of scientific communication, Science Advances stands as a pivotal publication dedicated to the broad dissemination of research. Established in early 2015 and published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), this peer-reviewed journal provides a platform for high-quality research across all scientific domains, ensuring that critical discoveries are accessible to a global audience.
Key Facts
- Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
- Scope: Multidisciplinary, covering all areas of science.
- Access Model: Gold open access (all papers are freely available).
- Impact Factor: 13.9 (2025).
- Editorial Distinction: Editors are active working scientists.
- Indexing: ISSN 2375-2548.
History and Growth
The AAAS first announced the creation of Science Advances in February 2014, with the inaugural articles appearing in early 2015. The journal was designed to expand the reach of the Science family of journals by removing paywalls.
The journal experienced rapid growth, notably in 2019 when it surpassed Science Magazine in terms of monthly submissions. This milestone established Science Advances as the largest member of the Science family of journals. It remains unique within this group as the only member where every published paper is gold open access—meaning the final version of the article is freely and permanently accessible immediately upon publication.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Editorial Structure and Scientific Scope
Science Advances is truly multidisciplinary, meaning it integrates knowledge from diverse fields to advance scientific understanding. Its scope is comprehensive, encompassing:
- Life sciences and public health
- Neurosciences
- Physical and computer sciences
- Social, environmental, and space sciences
The journal's editorial decisions are managed by an editorial board organized into specific topical areas. Each area is led by a deputy editor and supported by a group of associate editors. A distinguishing feature of Science Advances is that its editors are working scientists, providing a peer-led perspective that differs from the professional editorial staff found in other AAAS publications.
Open Access Policies and Licensing
A core mission of Science Advances is to ensure that content is freely accessible to all readers. However, the journal's licensing approach has been a point of discussion among the scientific community. At its launch, the journal utilized a default CC NC-BY license, which allows for sharing but prohibits commercial usage.
This policy drew criticism from open access advocates who pushed for the CC BY license. The CC BY license is less restrictive, permitting any use of the work—including commercial applications—provided that the original authors are given proper attribution.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| ISO 4 Abbreviation | Sci. Adv. |
| Licensing Options | CC BY or CC BY-NC |
| OCLC Number | 892343396 |
| LCCN | 2014203143 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the impact factor of Science Advances?
As of 2025, the journal has an impact factor of 13.9.
How does Science Advances differ from other AAAS journals?
Unlike other journals in the Science family, Science Advances is entirely gold open access and employs working scientists as its editors.
What scientific fields are covered by the journal?
The journal is multidisciplinary and covers all areas of science, including life, physical, social, computer, environmental, space sciences, neurosciences, and public health.
What licenses does the journal use for its content?
The journal uses CC BY or CC BY-NC licenses, ensuring that all published content remains freely accessible to the public.
When did Science Advances become the largest journal in the Science family?
It achieved this status in 2019, when its monthly submissions exceeded those of Science Magazine.