Georgia Tech’s undergraduate research journal, The Tower, is now available to a worldwide audience after being accepted into the Library of Congress in July.

The journal, which began in 2008, highlights research being conducted by undergraduate students from all areas of study and gives students a chance to have their work appear in a peer-reviewed publication before even earning a degree.

“As editor, one of my main goals is to increase the viewership and impact of The Tower,” said Editor-in-Chief Mohamad Ali Najia, a biomedical engineering student. The process of getting the journal into the Library of Congress began in May. "This achievement makes a significant step toward realizing that goal, and depicts the growth of The Tower since its inception."

The Library of Congress takes submissions for its collections, reserving the right to select or reject any published work based on the research needs of Congress, the nation’s scholars and the nation’s libraries, according to the Library’s website.

The quality of research featured in The Tower was an important qualifying factor for being accepted into the Library of Congress. The journal attracts undergraduate authors from diverse research fields, ranging from engineering to the social sciences. Historically, after being published in The Tower, nearly 80 percent of those authors who go on to attend graduate school receive a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, becoming the next group of experts and leaders in their fields. 

In addition to producing a print edition each semester, The Tower staff also produces research-related videos and events throughout the year. The most recent edition of the journal can be picked up in racks across campus or read online at gttower.org. Submissions are accepted year-round at gttower.org/submit.