About the Journal

Focus and Scope

The Bulletin of the Museum of Natural History of the University of Oregon is published to increase the knowledge and understanding of the Natural History of Oregon. Original articles in the fields of Botany, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Geology, Paleontology, Systematic Biology, Taxonomy, and Zoology appear irregularly in consecutively numbered issues. Contributions arise primarily from the research programs and collections of the Museum of Natural History. However, in keeping with the basic purpose of the publication, contributions are not restricted to these sources and are both technical and popular in character.

History of the Bulletin

The Bulletin of the Museum of Natural History,University of Oregon, began publication in 1965. The first 15 issues were published in only the first four years, but funding issues at the University of Oregon led to a decreased rate of publication after 1968, with only nine issues published between 1969 and 1983. The journal was on hiatus for the 22 years between 1983 and 2015, when revitalization of the paleontology program at the UO Museum allowed us to resume publication.

The Bulletin accepts original articles in the fields of Archaeology, Botany, Ethnology, Geology, Paleontology, and Zoology, with preference for topics related to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Issues are published irregularly with an average of three per year. While slightly over 50% of our contributions have been in the field of paleontology, we are a general natural history bulletin and welcome all appropriate submissions.

Peer Review Policy

Submissions to the Bulletin of the Museum of Natural History, University of Oregon, are vetted by the Editorial Staff for relevance to the journal’s mission and appropriateness of methods and conclusions. If they are found relevant and appropriate, they will be accepted for publication only after critical examination by two independent, extramural peer reviewers.

Reviewers evaluate the submissions on the basis of the scientific quality of their methods, the logic and appropriateness of their conclusions, and the quality and clarity of the writing and figures. The Bulletin does not use a significance criterion in approving submissions for publication.

Reviewers are selected on the basis of their established knowledge of the subject area and must come from outside the University of Oregon. Reviewers are selected by the editors. The Bulletin supports anonymous peer review, but allows reviewers to reveal their identities upon request.

Reviewers are asked to complete their reviews within two months. Total handling time from submission to decision averages three months.

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Publication Schedule

Articles will be published online as they are ready for print; as a result, the publication schedule is irregular subject to the completion of the review process.