TuftScope gaining national prominence

In only two years, TuftsScope, a journal of health, ethics, and policy, has created a strong presence on campus and has gained national acclaim.

TuftScope is one of the only student-run bioethical journals, with peer review approach, in the country. Articles published have dealt with topics ranging from the use of cloning in stem-cell research, to the causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder, to HIV. These articles have also been cited by well-known publications, such as The American Journal of Bioethics' Stem Cell Biography.

The organization also received the Evergreen Award from Tufts last May for best new organization of the year. The Office of Student Activities presented the award at the annual Student Organization Awards Banquet, when it acknowledges the hard work and accomplishments of ten student organizations.

"The award recognized our positive contribution to the academic community, and acknowledged our team's hard work," said Brad Crotty, a founding co-editor of TuftScope.

Though still in its infancy, the organization has come a long way since its inception in the fall of 2000, when it was an offshoot of the Pre-Medical Society at Tufts.

TuftScope began as a medium for dialogue between students, centering on bioethical issues, but soon transformed into much more than a bioethics journal, founding co-editor Kate McGinigle said. TuftScope tries to promote Tufts' vision of active citizenship, advocating community service as well as responsible action.

Published twice a year, the journal is a forum for the discussion of biomedical matters and the ethical and political issues arising from them.

"TuftScope is all about bridging the gap," McGinigle said. "When some people hear the word 'science', they shy away. When some scientists hear the word 'politics', they don't know how to react. We're hoping to start a connection between the two."

A peer reviewer, who specializes in the field of expertise pertaining to the submission, edits each submission to TuftScope. Peer reviewers can be Tufts graduate students and the faculty of Tufts University, as well as experts from other universities.

Faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates comprise an editorial advisory board, which makes the executive decisions for the publication.

TuftScope does more than publish a journal each year. Students involved in the organization attend national student bioethical conferences and hosts conferences to benefit the Tufts community.

One of these was held at Tufts in March 2001 to discuss the implications of gene patenting and genetic privacy. Speakers at the conference included a bioethicist from Boston University, as well as members of the Tufts faculty