Exploration Template
Get your Exploration paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the Exploration Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 11 August, 2026
Submitting to Exploration goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Exploration guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the Exploration Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Exploration. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Exploration journal page before you draft.
What's actually in an Exploration submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Exploration guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Exploration guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Exploration Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through the journal's submission system.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for Exploration.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Exploration guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through the journal's submission system.
Exploration Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | Exploration requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Abstract requirements vary by article type: - Research Article: 250 words maximum. Should state the main problem, methods, results, and conclusions. Must be factual and comprehensive. - Review: 250 words maximum. Briefly describe the content. - Perspective: 250 words maximum. Briefly describe the content. - Short Communication: Not required. - Editorial: Not required. - Commentary: Not required. - Research Highlights: Not required. - News: Not required. - Interview: Not required. The abstract is unstructured (no mandatory headings specified in the guide) |
| Main text | Main text word limits by article type: - Research Article: No strict word limit; recommended to keep within 5,000 words including the abstract but excluding references, tables and figures. - Review: No strict word limit; recommended to keep within 8,000 words including the abstract but excluding references, tables and figures. - Short Communication: Maximum 1,500 words excluding references, tables and figures. - Editorial: Maximum 1,000 words. - Perspective: No strict word limit; recommended to keep within 5,000 words including the abstract but excluding references, tables and figures. - Commentary: Typically 1,000–2,000 words and no more than 3 pages. - Research Highlights: Typically 800–1,500 words and no more than 3 pages. - News: Typically 600–1,000 words and no more than 2 pages. - Interview: Typically 800–2,500 words |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | 4-6 keywords required for Research Article, Review, Short Communication, and Perspective to highlight the main subject areas of the article. Not required for Editorial, Commentary, Research Highlights, News, and Interview |
| References | Wiley Chemistry-Material Sciences reference style. All references should be numbered consecutively in order of appearance. In-text citations should cite references in consecutive order using Arabic superscript numerals |
| Peer review | Double anonymized peer review (also called double-blind). Adopted from April 3, 2025. Except where otherwise stated, manuscripts are double anonymized peer review |
| Submission | authors.wiley.com/journal/EXP2 |
Quick Tips for Using the Exploration Template
Read the Exploration guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Exploration in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent Exploration papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Exploration journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the Exploration guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through the journal's submission system.
