Dr. Mashiur Rahman
Anyone involved in research is surely familiar with the scientific journal called Nature. For those who aren’t, let me explain: every researcher’s life usually has at least one goal, desire, or dream—to have at least one publication in this journal. That’s how important it is. Scientists use something called an impact factor to measure the significance of scientific journals. For ordinary journals, the impact factor is usually between 2 and 5. However, Nature’s impact factor is close to 70.
The reason I’m giving this background before sharing the main story is that I’m about to show you a rejection letter from 1992 addressed to scientist Professor Peter J. Ratcliffe. He discovered a mechanism by which cells in our body detect low oxygen levels, a process known as ‘hypoxia.’
Three years ago, Professor Peter J. Ratcliffe was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery—a discovery that even such a prestigious journal initially rejected.
Sometimes, reviewers may not recognize the true significance of your work, and often, editors trust their reviewers’ opinions blindly. Don’t lose heart. Gain confidence in yourself, and stick with it. Nature will not be unjust to you.
November 13, 2022
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