Biological Theory

On January 1, 2026, Kevin Lala takes over as Editor-in-Chief, with the previous incumbent, Stuart Newman, joining the editorial board. Barbara Fischer, Laurel Fogarty, Luiz Pessoa, Ronald Planer, Tobias Uller, and Cristina Villegas all join the team of Associate Editors, with Linda Corporael and Gerd Müller stepping down from that role.
Kenneth McKenna steps down as section editor.

Our cover for 2026 features Supremus No. 55 (1916, 80 x 80 cm, oil on canvas) by Kazimir Malevich (1879–1935), an avant-garde artist, born in Kyiv to parents of Polish origin, and founder of the Suprematist school of abstract painting. Malevich sought to develop a form of expression freed from reference to objects and to use reduction to the simplest geometric forms to illustrate the ‘highest’ principles of human knowledge. Supremus No. 55 exemplifies this approach by using geometric forms, color, and spatial relationships, highlighting the movement’s focus on “the supremacy of pure artistic feeling.“

The Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research (KLI) is an independent center of advanced studies in the life and sustainability sciences. The mission of the KLI is to enable scientific reasoning that can contribute to understanding and sustaining life in its biological, cognitive, social, and cultural diversity. The KLI is committed to contribute by addressing pressing challenges of our time through inter and transdisciplinary research. Especially, we believe that theories are crucial to: give meaning to data, connect ideas, facilitate dialogue, stimulate learning, inform new research, and inspire action.

The KLI supports conceptual and formal research as well as philosophical and historical work that addresses broad and interrelated questions about life. It does not put disciplinary boundaries to creativity and welcomes proposals engaging with these questions from the natural and social sciences as well as from philosophy, history and social studies thereof.

The KLI has founded Biological Theory and decides about the Editorial leadership. The Editor in Chief makes content decisions independent of the KLI.

 The KLI also publishes the book series Vienna Series in Theoretical Biology with MITPress

Original articles

Original articles report novel research in evolutionary and developmental biology or cognitive science, with a particular focus on the theory and philosophy of biology (up to 7,000 words).

Perspectives

An opinion piece is a short personal work that offers a new perspective on a research-related topic on the theory and philosophy of biology, designed to stimulate debate rather than present a balanced review (up to 5,000 words).

Historical essays

A historical essay uses historical evidence and analysis to shed light on a specific question related to past biological research (up to 7,000 words).

Classics in biological theory

Essays highlighting the continued relevance of key papers from the past for current research in biology (with the original paper published as supplementary material and translated into English where required) (up to 3,000 words).

Articles in these collections are upon invitation of the section editor. Please contact the section editor to discuss your ideas.

Critical concepts in biological theory

Articles providing a concise summary of a fundamental concept in biology, acknowledging controversies and disagreements (up to 3,000 words).

Review articles

Reviews summarize, synthesize, and critically evaluate existing research on a specific topic in evolutionary and developmental biology, or cognitive science, providing an overview of the current state of knowledge (up to 7,000 words).

Book reviews

A book review provides an overview of a recently published book of particular significance within evolutionary and developmental biology or cognitive science. It should summarise the main argument(s), describe the structure of the book, point out the target audience, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses (up to 3,000 words).

Target article with commentaries

Original article of unusual significance (up to 7,000 words) published with up to three commentaries from independent experts (1,000-2,000 words) and a reply from the author (2,000 words).

Thematic issues and thematic sections

A collection of original articles on the same topic concerning research into the theory and philosophy of biology and cognition, handled by one or more guest editors (each up to 7,000 words).

All article types, apart from Book reviews, are single-anonymized reviewed by at least two independent international reviewers. The Editor-in-Chief makes all final decisions for all submitted papers based on these reviews. Book reviews and Editorials by the Editor-in-Chief or by a Guest Editor of a Thematic Issue/Section are reviewed by at least one Associate Editor.

For Perspectives, Historical essays, Critical concepts, and Review articles, please include a justification for why such an article would be timely as a cover letter or in the Author Comments section of your submission. For Classics in biological theory, please contact the section editor to discuss your ideas in advance of submission. For Thematic Issues, please contact the Editor-in-Chief to discuss your ideas in advance of submission. Articles in guest-edited Thematic Issues/Sections follow the same peer review standards as Original Articles.