The Master’s Program in Food Science and Technology (MFST), Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a guest lecture for MFST students on May 5, 2026, featuring Prof. Dr. Beom Soo Kim from Chungbuk National University, South Korea. Carrying the topic “How to Publish in High-Impact Journals,” the session provided students with practical insights into scientific writing, publication strategy, and the editorial process behind reputable international journals.
The lecture began with an introduction to Prof. Kim’s research environment at Chungbuk National University, including the work of his laboratory team and the involvement of Indonesian researchers in the group. He also introduced several areas of research developed in his laboratory, ranging from biochemicals, nanomaterials, and bioplastics to bioplastic-based materials for anticancer applications. Examples discussed during the session included NMN production, graphene development through sonication, and the synthesis of vegetable oil-based polymers for drug delivery systems.
Drawing on his experience as an author of more than 200 journal articles and as a member of international journal editorial boards, Prof. Kim highlighted what makes a manuscript stand out in the publication process. He explained that editors commonly look for three main qualities in a scientific paper: novelty, significance, and clarity. Since editors often make an initial assessment within a short time, researchers need to present the value of their work clearly from the very beginning of the manuscript.
Prof. Kim also shared practical strategies for developing each section of a scientific article. He emphasized the importance of a focused title, an abstract that presents key findings supported by quantitative data, and an introduction that guides readers from existing knowledge to the research gap. He also noted that the methods section should be clear and reproducible, while the results and discussion should use strong data comparison to support interpretation.
In discussing publication strategy, Prof. Kim encouraged students to pay close attention to journal scope, prepare a persuasive cover letter, and respond to reviewers’ comments professionally with well-supported scientific arguments. He also underlined the role of effective figures and graphs, noting that strong visual presentation helps communicate research findings more clearly and efficiently.
Through this guest lecture, MFST students gained a broader understanding of how strong research can be communicated more effectively for international publication. The session reinforced that successful publication in high-impact journals depends not only on the quality of the research, but also on the ability to present novel ideas, robust data, a clear storyline, and compelling visual evidence.
