College of Technology to provide editorial leadership of academic journal

Three professors from Purdue’s College of Technology will provide editorial leadership for The Journal of Technology Studies (JOTS). JOTS is the flagship, peer-reviewed journal of Epsilon Pi Tau (EPT), the international honor society for technology professions.

The EPT board of directors appointed Marvin Sarapin, department head and professor of computer graphics technology; Gary Bertoline, associate dean for graduate programs; and Judith Birchman, associate professor of computer graphics technology, to coordinate the publication.

“The College of Technology has committed to assist Epsilon Pi Tau in expanding the quality and delivery of JOTS,” Bertoline said. “This is a big, big step for us and a real chance for us to influence scholarship in technology education.”

The editorial team has already made plans to make approved articles immediately available online. Because of the nature of technology, timely distribution of scholarly work in essential, Sarapin says.

A member of EPT since 1968, Sarapin also sees a more consistent publication schedule as a benefit to younger faculty. Tenure and promotion are often tied to public acknowledgement of a faculty member’s scholarly work. Having an article published in a refereed journal such as JOTS increases their portfolio.

Submissions may focus on technology research, or they may tackle social issues affected by technology. Other articles have focused on the history of a technology.

“It’s a vehicle for scholarly discussion in the field,” Sarapin says.

Sarapin and Bertoline agree that the college’s involvement with the journal can only help the college and Purdue.

“This is a natural extension of our leadership in academia,” Bertoline said. “If we are to be the benchmark college of technology, having editorial leadership of a benchmark journal for technology studies is important for us.”

In addition to online publication of articles, two online and one print edition of JOTS are planned in 2011. The spring issue will be open to all technology topics. The winter issue will publish articles related to “green and appropriate technology”.

Purdue is the home of the Gamma Rho Chapter of EPT. George Rogers, professor of industrial technology, is the chapter trustee, and Sarapin is co-trustee. The chapter holds initiations each fall and spring semesters for eligible undergraduate and graduate students as well as field practitioners in the technology professions.

Read more at the EPT Web site: http://www.epsilonpitau.org.