BURJ Mission & History
Mission
The Bishop's Undergraduate Research Journal was made with the intent to share the research efforts of undergraduate students who have produced original academic contributions in their field. Being in a small, primarily undergraduate institution, Bishop’s students are exposed to and engage with research from different fields. Smaller class sizes give students the opportunity to learn from faculty and peers at an intimate level, allowing students to become uniquely familiar with the ongoing research in our institution. As a result, our undergraduate students are constantly encouraged to produce novel works, both in their courses and in research positions.
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However, navigating the world of academic publication can be a daunting task for many. Undergraduate students entering the world of research may face barriers to publishing their work through a lack of knowledge of the academic publishing process, unfamiliarity with academic writing conventions, and other barriers to entry. The mission of BURJ is thus twofold: to introduce students to the publication process and to offer a platform where they can share their work with a wider audience.
History
Founded in the summer of 2021, the Bishop's Undergraduate Research Journal was founded as a general interest journal by Liam O'Toole ('23), Linnie McGuire ('22), and Virginia Pacheco ('25). The original objective of the journal was to provide an outlet for our undergraduate students to share their academic work with a wider audience. The journal has since been conceptualized as a conscious effort to provide students in the liberal arts environment with the necessary resources and support to familiarize themselves with the academic publishing process. The journal also puts a premium on works produced by undergraduate students. BURJ is designed to reserve a space for undergraduate students in academic discourse.
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The BURJ was ratified as an academic society in affiliation with the Bishop's University Students Representative Council in December 2021. Our first issue has debuted in December 2022. Now that our editorial board has the necessary resources and infrastructure to more efficiently process submissions, we hope to deliver publications to the Bishop's community on a consistent basis.