科学期刊(scientific journal)是一种发表经过同行评审的科学研究相关论文的周期性刊物。科学期刊是科学研究者获取了解同行工作的重要渠道。著名的科学期刊往往具有重要的影响力，往往能影响科学研究的方向和科研资金的投入。在中国，科学期刊的发表对科研人员的考核具有重要作用

科学期刊的历史可以追溯到1665年，当时法国的期刊 en:Journal des sçavans 和英国的期刊en:Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 第一次开始系统发行科学研究结果。

In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past (see list of scientific journals). Most journals are highly specialized, although some of the oldest journals such as Nature publish articles and scientific papers across a wide range of scientific fields. Scientific journals contain articles that have been peer reviewed, in an attempt to ensure that articles meet the journal's standards of quality, and scientific validity. Although scientific journals are superficially similar to professional magazines, they are actually quite different. Issues of a scientific journal are rarely read casually, as one would read a magazine. The publication of the results of research is an essential part of the scientific method. If they are describing experiments or calculations, they must supply enough details that an independent researcher could repeat the experiment or calculation to verify the results. Each such journal article becomes part of the permanent scientific record.