Intelligence & Cognition Research

Student-led Peer-reviewed Open access

A rigorous, interdisciplinary venue for emerging scholarship on intelligence, cognition, technology, and public life.

Submit Your Work

About ICR

Intelligence & Cognition Research (ICR) is a student-led, open-access journal that publishes clear, evidence-based work at the intersection of intelligence, cognition, and public policy. We welcome submissions from high school and undergraduate authors worldwide, including first-time authors.

ICR is built for learning and serious discussion. We value clarity, careful evidence, and intellectual honesty. Strong submissions do not need to be highly technical: a well-argued essay, a compact analysis, a classroom project expanded into a paper, or a policy memo grounded in sources can all be excellent fits.

We publish across AI and cognitive science, and we especially encourage writing that connects these fields to education, governance, human rights, information integrity, and technology regulation.

Aims & Scope

ICR is a publication and training ground for strong research and writing habits. We welcome:

  • Research & analysis: small experiments, replications, surveys, or careful data work
  • Essays: well-argued pieces on cognition, AI, ethics, or social impact
  • Public policy writing: policy briefs, memos, and comparative reviews across countries or jurisdictions
  • Education & society: learning, accessibility, human factors, HCI, and institutional design
  • Case studies: a focused deep-dive on one system, program, or intervention

What counts as a strong submission?

  • It’s understandable: A reader can see your question, approach, and conclusion.
  • It’s careful: You describe how you formed your views (methods, sources, assumptions).
  • It’s responsible: You avoid overclaiming; you discuss tradeoffs and risks.
  • It’s useful: A student, teacher, or policymaker could learn something concrete from it.

Policy submissions (what we like to see)

  • A clear problem definition (who is affected, what is happening, why it matters).
  • Options and tradeoffs (2–3 approaches, with pros/cons and risks).
  • Implementation realism (feasibility, costs, enforcement, unintended effects).
  • Comparative perspective (even a light comparison across states/countries is excellent).

New Authors Welcome

If this is your first paper or your first policy memo, that’s completely fine. We evaluate submissions for clarity, care, and evidence, and we aim to provide constructive feedback when possible.

Inaugural Issue (Coming 2026)

In Preparation

ICR is assembling its inaugural issue. Once published, this section will list papers, author affiliations, and (where applicable) supplementary materials.

Submissions are accepted by email now (see below).

How to Submit (Email)

ICR accepts submissions by email. Send your submission to intelligenceandcognition@gmail.com. Please attach a single PDF (preferred) so formatting is preserved. If PDF export is difficult, include a view-only Google Doc link as a backup.

Required email format

Please include the following in the body of your email so we can process your submission quickly:

Subject line: ICR Submission — [Title] — [Country]

Author name(s): Full name(s) as you want them to appear

Country: Where you are submitting from

School / Institution (optional): High school, university, or “Independent”

Grade / Year (optional): e.g., Grade 10 / Year 1

Corresponding author: Name + email for follow-ups

Attachment: A single PDF (preferred). Optional backup: view-only Google Doc link

1–3 sentence summary: Your question/claim and your main takeaway or recommendation

Keywords (optional): 3–6 keywords (e.g., education policy, privacy, attention)

Materials (optional): Code/data link, appendix, survey instrument, or extended sources list

Tools disclosure (optional): If you used AI tools for editing or coding help, note it briefly

Guidelines (kept flexible)

  • Length: Any reasonable length. Short, clear submissions are welcome.
  • Structure: An abstract and references are recommended, but format is not a barrier by itself.
  • Evidence: Use credible sources, data, or concrete examples—especially for policy writing.
  • Tradeoffs: If you propose a policy, address risks and downsides (even briefly).
  • Reproducibility: Share materials if you can; if you can’t, explain constraints.
  • Ethics: If humans were involved (surveys, interviews), describe consent and privacy briefly.

What happens after you submit

  • 1) Confirmation: We reply to confirm receipt (usually within a few days).
  • 2) Editorial check: We check scope fit, clarity, and completeness.
  • 3) Review: Submissions may be read by student reviewers and an advisor/mentor when available.
  • 4) Decision: You receive Accept, Revise & Resubmit, or Decline (with brief rationale when possible).
  • 5) Publication: Accepted pieces are prepared for the next issue with light copyediting.

Our goal is to be encouraging and rigorous: we take student work seriously and aim to provide feedback that helps authors improve, especially early in their writing and research journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can submit to ICR? +

Any high school or undergraduate student may submit from anywhere in the world. Independent researchers and policy writers are also welcome.

Do I need to be technical to publish here? +

No. ICR publishes both empirical work and analytical writing, including essays and policy briefs. What matters most is clear reasoning and credible support for your claims.

Is there a publication fee? +

No. ICR is free to publish and free to read.

Can I submit a policy brief or memo? +

Yes. Policy briefs and memos are welcome—especially submissions that define a clear problem, compare options, and discuss tradeoffs realistically.

Can I submit a Google Doc instead of a PDF? +

Yes. A PDF attachment is preferred because it preserves formatting, but a view-only Google Doc link is acceptable—especially if you are submitting from a phone or a school device with restrictions.