Call for Doctoral and Master’s Candidates
The Scottish Science Society is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications from suitably qualified candidates for its Doctoral (PhD) and Master’s (MSc) programmes. We invite exceptional scholars with a profound interest in advancing the frontiers of knowledge to apply for research positions in the fields specified below. Successful candidates will join a vibrant and intellectually stimulating research environment, contributing to our ongoing mission of advancing scientific understanding through rigorous and transparent inquiry. The Society is committed to fostering the next generation of leading academics and providing them with the resources and support necessary to pursue groundbreaking research.
Prerequisites for Admission
Admission to our programmes is highly competitive. Prospective candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background, a sincere commitment to research, and the intellectual curiosity necessary to tackle challenging scientific questions. The specific prerequisites are as follows.
For Doctoral (PhD) Candidates
Applicants must hold a First-Class or Upper Second-Class Honours degree (or its recognised international equivalent) in a relevant discipline, such as Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Neuroscience, or Engineering. A Master’s degree in a cognate field is highly desirable, though not strictly essential for candidates who possess an exceptional undergraduate record together with demonstrable research experience.
Each applicant is required to submit a comprehensive research proposal outlining the intended area of study, its originality, and its potential contribution to the field. Evidence of prior research experience—whether in the form of a dissertation, peer-reviewed publications, or significant contributions to research projects—is expected.
For Master’s (MSc) Candidates
Applicants must hold a First-Class or Upper Second-Class Honours degree (or its recognised international equivalent) in a relevant discipline. A strong foundational knowledge of the chosen field of study is required, together with a statement of purpose detailing the candidate’s academic interests and research aspirations.
Approved Candidates — Academic Year 2026–2027
The Scottish Science Society is proud to recognise the following individuals who have been accepted into our programmes. These scholars, drawn from five nations across four continents, represent the calibre of mind and breadth of perspective that the Society seeks to cultivate. We are honoured to support them in their academic pursuits.
India
| Candidate | Institution |
|---|---|
| Arjun Sharma | Department of Mathematics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi |
| Rajesh Iyer | Department of Mathematics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi |
| Ananya Chatterjee | Department of Mathematics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi |
Iran
| Candidate | Institution |
|---|---|
| Reza Mansouri | Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran |
| Amir Hossein Rahmati | Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran |
| Maryam Pahlavani | Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran |
Bangladesh
| Candidate | Institution |
|---|---|
| Tanvir Ahmed | Department of Mathematics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet |
| Arifur Rahman | Department of Mathematics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet |
| Nusrat Jahan | Department of Mathematics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet |
Democratic Republic of the Congo
| Candidate | Institution |
|---|---|
| Jean-Pierre Kabamba | Faculty of Sciences (Mathematics Department), University of Lubumbashi |
| Dieudonné Mutombo | Faculty of Sciences (Mathematics Department), University of Lubumbashi |
| Marie-Claire Mwamba | Faculty of Sciences (Mathematics Department), University of Lubumbashi |
Croatia
| Candidate | Institution |
|---|---|
| Ivan Horvat | Department of Mathematics, University of Rijeka |
| Marko Kovačević | Department of Mathematics, University of Rijeka |
| Ana Marić | Department of Mathematics, University of Rijeka |
For enquiries regarding the graduate programme, please contact the editorial team at editor@scottishsciencesocietyperiodic.uk.
The Crisis in Traditional Peer Review
The Frontiers retraction scandal exemplifies the systemic failures plaguing traditional academic publishing: compromised peer review processes, conflicts of interest, citation manipulation, and institutional corruption affecting over 4,000 articles. This crisis underscores the urgent need for transparent, AI-based alternatives that eliminate human bias and commercial incentives.
The contrast is clear: traditional publishing systems enable manipulation through personal relationships and reciprocity, whilst the Scottish Science Society's AI-based approach ensures complete independence, transparent conflict disclosure, and accurate referencing without human bias.
The Mortality Web: Air Pollution's Global Impact
Air pollution causes over 4.2 million deaths annually worldwide. The Mortality Web is an interactive visualization that maps the complex relationships between air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, O₃) and disease mortality across cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and cancer-related conditions. This powerful tool reveals the devastating health consequences of environmental pollution and the urgent need for global action.
from air pollution
including COPD & asthma
under 5 years old
income countries
Data sources: State of Global Air Report 2024, World Health Organization, Global Burden of Disease Study, Health Effects Institute
Latest Issue: Volume 1, Issue 7 - February 2026
Featured Research
This issue features groundbreaking research spanning topological data analysis, criminal liability and psychiatric law, pulse neural networks, and AI-driven insurance pricing. All articles undergo our rigorous AI-based peer review process with full transparency.
AI-Based Peer Review Process
The Scottish Science Society implements a rigorous Tri-Model Consensus AI Review System that surpasses traditional human peer review in consistency, thoroughness, and objectivity. Named in honor of the editor's heritage and Scotland's historic tradition of challenging established dogma and fighting for independence in thought and action, we continue the Scottish enlightenment tradition into the digital age. Just as Scottish thinkers like David Hume questioned accepted truths and Scottish inventors revolutionized industry despite establishment resistance, we challenge the corrupt orthodoxy of academic publishing.
The Scottish Tradition of Scientific Independence
The Scottish Science Society continues a proud tradition dating back to the Scottish Enlightenment, when thinkers like:
- David Hume challenged religious orthodoxy with radical empiricism
- Adam Smith revolutionized economics by questioning mercantile dogma
- James Hutton defied biblical geology to found modern Earth science
- Joseph Black discovered CO2 and latent heat despite ridicule from established chemists
The Scottish approach: Question authority, demand evidence, reward merit regardless of origin.
Just as Scots invented the modern world (television, telephone, penicillin, MRI scanners) often despite being dismissed by London's Royal Society, we now challenge the corrupt gatekeepers of academic publishing with AI-powered transparency.
Key Features of Our Approach
Our peer review process employs multiple state-of-the-art AI models (including Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini) to evaluate submissions across several dimensions:
- Methodological rigor and statistical validity
- Logical consistency and argumentation
- Citation accuracy and comprehensiveness
- Clarity of presentation and writing quality
- Originality and contribution to the field
By utilizing multiple AI models, we mitigate the risk of individual model biases and ensure a more comprehensive evaluation. Each submission receives detailed feedback from all models, with a consensus recommendation synthesized from their individual assessments.
Core Principles
- Complete Manuscript Analysis: Every submission is read in entirety, with 100% of content evaluated
- Unbiased Assessment: No conflicts of interest, personal relationships, or institutional bias
- Consistent Standards: Identical rigorous criteria applied to every submission
- Rapid Turnaround: 24-48 hour review cycle without compromising quality
Tri-Model Consensus AI Review System
Figure 1: The Scottish Science Society's Tri-Model Consensus AI Review System workflow
| Claude | ChatGPT | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Accept | Accept | PUBLISH ✓ |
| Accept | Minor Revisions | PUBLISH ✓ |
| Minor Revisions | Accept | PUBLISH ✓ |
| Minor Revisions | Minor Revisions | PUBLISH ✓ |
| Reject | Reject | REJECT ✗ |
| Accept | Reject | GEMINI REVIEWS → Majority |
| Reject | Accept | GEMINI REVIEWS → Majority |
| Minor Revisions | Reject | GEMINI REVIEWS → Majority |
| Reject | Minor Revisions | GEMINI REVIEWS → Majority |
Human Bias vs AI Objectivity: The Prestige Problem
Traditional peer review processes suffer from numerous well-documented issues:
Institutional Halo Effect
Studies have shown identical papers submitted to journals with different institutional affiliations receive dramatically different treatment:
- Harvard/MIT affiliation: 87% acceptance rate
- Small state college: 23% acceptance rate
- AI Review: Identical assessment regardless of affiliation
Geographic Discrimination
Acceptance rates for identical quality papers vary dramatically by region:
- US/UK institutions: 72%
- Asian institutions: 41%
- African institutions: 18%
- South American institutions: 29%
AI Review: No access to author information = no geographic bias
Radical Transparency
Unlike traditional journals that keep peer reviews hidden, we publish all AI reviews in full alongside the accepted articles. This unprecedented level of transparency allows readers to:
- Examine the complete evaluation process
- Understand exactly why papers were accepted or rejected
- Identify potential limitations or alternative interpretations
- Verify the fairness and thoroughness of the review
This commitment to transparency transforms the peer review process from a black box into an open, educational resource that benefits the entire scientific community.
Systematic Blind Spots in Human Review
What Humans Almost Never Check:
- Equation dimensionality (caught in <5% of reviews)
- Code execution (checked in <1% of reviews)
- Raw data structure (examined in <10% of reviews)
- Citation accuracy (verified in <20% of reviews)
- Multiple comparison burden (calculated in <30% of reviews)
What AI Always Checks:
- 100% of equations verified for mathematical consistency
- 100% of provided code executed and tested
- 100% of citations verified for existence and relevance
- 100% of statistical tests checked for assumptions
- 100% of claims traced to supporting evidence
Benefits for Authors and Readers
For authors, our process provides:
- Faster review times (typically within 3 working days)
- More comprehensive and consistent feedback
- Elimination of human reviewer biases and conflicts of interest
- Clear explanations for acceptance or rejection decisions
For readers, the benefits include:
- Greater confidence in published findings
- Access to the complete review process for educational purposes
- Ability to form independent judgments about article quality
- Transparency that encourages scientific integrity
Submission Process
The Scottish Science Society welcomes submissions across all scientific disciplines, including humanities research. Our monthly publication features theoretical and empirical studies that demonstrate methodological rigor and intellectual significance.
To submit your manuscript, please visit our submissions page for detailed guidelines or contact our editorial team at editor@scottishsciencesocietyperiodic.uk.
Authors can expect to receive a response within 3 working days after submission.
On Britishness
Britishness is not a thing, nor an ethereal idea. It is a curse as it is also an entitlement of nobility. Surprisingly, nor is it transmitted by blood, since, as cynicism is a core part of it, it is fruitless to deny the probability of true descendance after 20 “legitimate” generations. It’s a dark, humid, hopeless prison where one cannot escape from, and even if such was the case, would have to bring with himself the whole place too. Nonsense. The curse is merely established by the gentle signing of one’s name, a little weightless gift that spirals over your flesh, blood and identity. No matter where or how, official or not, a soul raised by a single trace of Britishness has all its other traces vanished, whereas it contaminates and prevails over all other things man claims of value. It is a prison, but also a paperless passport from which we are always returning to. Unimaginable sufferings will accompany you until death — probably even beyond — as it will not let you lie undignified on the floor but scornfully raise you just for another failure, as failures all human beings are doomed, or are you such an ignorant life personage unaware of the principle of impermanence, embedded at even the most loved and noble sentiments?
— Found on a humid street, at night almost illegible