March 16, 2009

We invite ecology educators with photographs that can be used to teach ecological concepts at the undergraduate level to submit them for peer review and inclusion in EcoEd Digital Library.

Photograph subjects sought for EcoEd Digital Library include:

• Noteworthy organisms, communities, and ecosystems.
  
• Ecological interactions.
  
• Human impacts on ecosystems, including management and restoration.
  
• Research methods and techniques (field or lab).
  

Formatting

Authors can submit their photograph(s) to EcoEd Digital Library by completing the Submission Form for Photographs (login required) We are currently accepting files in JPG format with a maximum width of 800 pixels.

Review Criteria

All submitted items are peer reviewed and selected for scientific accuracy, instructional value, and visual quality. The information provided with each submission is important for ecology educators searching for resources and deciding how to use them effectively in their courses. Therefore, both the photograph and its corresponding descriptions are required for a submission to be complete.

Only submissions that meet all of the following criteria will be included in EcoEd Digital Library:

• Quality, clarity, and appeal.
  Does the submission meet the visual standards of the collection? Is the subject easily detected in the submission? Can this photograph and its underlying concept be described in terms familiar to a layperson?
• Scientific accuracy.
  Is the science presented in the figure or table accurate?
• Instructional value.
  Does the submission help foster understanding of ecological concepts/techniques? Is this submission and its underlying concept described in terms familiar to a faculty member?
• Adherence to the field of ecology.
  Does this photograph fit within the discipline of ecology?
• Description of classroom use. Note: this is optional information for photographs.
  Has the author included guidance for applying the photograph to ecology education? What should students know and be able to do after seeing and discussing the photograph?

EcoEd Digital Library reviewers will use the Peer Review Rubric for Photographs to review submissions.

Copyright Information

Materials submitted must be original works or copyright free. Copyright of the materials will remain with the author, and ESA agrees to give authors appropriate credit in all ESA reproductions, copies, and publications of the materials. ESA members are encouraged to peruse their private collections of teaching and learning resources. Individuals submitting materials for EcoEd Digital Library must attest that the materials are original and that they hold/own the copyright. ESA requires prospective authors to grant ESA the nonexclusive world rights to reproduce and/or distribute materials included in EcoEd Digital Library. This arrangement permits authors to retain the copyright to the materials so that they may republish or otherwise use these materials.

General Submission Information for EcoEd Digital Library