Editorial Policies & Ethical Publishing

Overview

Global Science Today (GST) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, editorial integrity, and transparency throughout the publication process. The journal follows the principles and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all authors, editors, reviewers, and editorial staff to adhere to these ethical standards.

The journal publishes only original, high-quality research that has been conducted ethically and reported honestly. All participants in the publication process share responsibility for upholding scientific integrity and ensuring that published work is accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Authors are expected to ensure that their submissions are original, have not been published or submitted elsewhere, properly acknowledge the work of others, disclose any conflicts of interest, and comply with applicable research ethics and reporting guidelines.

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, originality, scientific quality, and relevance to the journal's scope. Editorial decisions are made independently and without discrimination based on nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.

Reviewers are expected to treat manuscripts as confidential documents, provide objective and constructive evaluations, declare any conflicts of interest, and refrain from using unpublished information for personal advantage.

GST investigates all allegations of research or publication misconduct in accordance with COPE recommendations. Where necessary, the journal may contact authors' institutions, funding agencies, or relevant regulatory authorities. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate corrective actions—including corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions—will be taken to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Authors, reviewers, readers, or other stakeholders who have concerns regarding research or publication ethics are encouraged to contact the journal directly with supporting evidence.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Global Science Today is dedicated to promoting ethical scholarly publishing by ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability throughout the editorial and peer-review process.

Editorial Responsibilities

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board are responsible for making publication decisions based on scientific merit, originality, significance, and relevance to the journal. Editorial decisions are independent and are not influenced by commercial interests or personal relationships.

Editors maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and do not use unpublished material for personal research without the explicit written consent of the authors.

Reviewer Responsibilities

GST follows a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality and integrity of published research. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain strict confidentiality of manuscripts.
  • Provide fair, objective, and constructive evaluations.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest.
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.
  • Report suspected plagiarism, ethical concerns, or research misconduct.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to GST must:

  • Submit original work that has not been published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere.
  • Accurately present research findings without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.
  • Properly acknowledge the contributions of others through appropriate citations.
  • Include all individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions as authors.
  • Obtain all required ethical approvals and informed consent where applicable.
  • Disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

Plagiarism Policy

Global Science Today has zero tolerance for plagiarism in any form.

All submitted manuscripts are screened using recognized plagiarism detection software before peer review. Manuscripts containing plagiarism, duplicate publication, self-plagiarism beyond acceptable limits, manipulated images, or other forms of academic misconduct may be rejected immediately.

If plagiarism or other ethical violations are discovered after publication, the journal will take appropriate corrective action following COPE recommendations, which may include issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retraction of the article.

Research and Publication Misconduct

GST investigates all allegations of research or publication misconduct, including but not limited to:

  • Plagiarism
  • Duplicate or redundant publication
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Image manipulation
  • Citation manipulation
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Authorship disputes
  • Peer-review manipulation
  • Ethical approval violations

All allegations are assessed fairly, confidentially, and objectively.

Where appropriate, the journal may request original data, explanations from the authors, or supporting documentation before reaching a decision.

Procedure for Handling Ethical Concerns

When a potential ethical issue is identified:

  1. The allegation is reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and editorial office.
  2. Preliminary evidence is assessed.
  3. Authors are contacted and invited to respond.
  4. Additional documentation or original data may be requested.
  5. Independent experts or editorial board members may be consulted when necessary.
  6. A final decision is made based on the available evidence and COPE guidelines.
  7. Appropriate actions may include manuscript rejection, publication of corrections, expressions of concern, article retraction, notification of institutions, or temporary restrictions on future submissions.

Corrections and Retractions

GST is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

Where significant errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, the journal may publish:

  • Corrections (Errata or Corrigenda)
  • Expressions of Concern
  • Retractions

These actions are taken in accordance with internationally accepted publishing standards and COPE guidance.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors who disagree with an editorial or ethical decision may submit a written appeal, supported by appropriate evidence. Appeals are reviewed independently by the editorial team, and additional experts may be consulted when necessary.

Complaints regarding editorial conduct, peer review, publication ethics, or journal procedures should be submitted to the editorial office. All complaints are handled confidentially, fairly, and promptly.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

Global Science Today is committed to promoting responsible research, ethical publishing practices, transparency, and scientific integrity. The journal continuously updates its editorial policies to align with internationally recognized ethical standards and best practices in scholarly publishing.