Ethics, Misconduct & Publication Integrity Policy

Preamble

Global Science Today (GST) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly publishing, research integrity, editorial transparency, and ethical conduct. The journal follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other internationally recognized publishing standards. All authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff are expected to uphold these principles throughout the publication process.

1. General Ethical Principles

1.1 Global Science Today publishes original, high-quality scientific research that has been conducted and reported honestly, ethically, and transparently.

1.2 All participants in the publication process are expected to act with integrity, fairness, confidentiality, and professionalism while avoiding practices that compromise scientific credibility.

1.3 The journal is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record and investigating all credible allegations of research or publication misconduct.

2. Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to all submitted, accepted, and published manuscripts and covers, but is not limited to:

  • Authorship integrity

  • Research misconduct

  • Plagiarism and duplicate publication

  • Data fabrication and falsification

  • Image manipulation

  • Unethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Third-party manuscript brokering and authorship sales

  • Peer-review manipulation

  • Citation manipulation

  • Conflicts of interest

  • Editorial misconduct

The policy applies equally to authors, co-authors, reviewers, editors, guest editors, and editorial staff.

3. Authorship and Contributor Responsibilities

3.1 Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research.

3.2 Every listed author must approve the final manuscript, agree to its submission, and accept responsibility for the integrity of the work.

3.3 Guest authorship, honorary authorship, ghost authorship, and purchased authorship are strictly prohibited.

3.4 All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately.

4. Prohibition of Authorship Sales and Manuscript Brokering

Global Science Today strictly prohibits:

  • Buying or selling authorship positions.

  • Selling or purchasing completed manuscripts.

  • Using publication brokers or agencies that guarantee publication or editorial influence.

  • Unauthorized third parties negotiating authorship positions on behalf of researchers.

The journal does not authorize any individual or organization to guarantee publication or expedited acceptance.

Where evidence of such practices exists, the journal may reject or retract the manuscript, notify relevant institutions, and prohibit future submissions by the individuals involved.

Article Processing Charges (APCs), where applicable, are non-refundable in cases involving ethical misconduct.

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI

Responsible use of AI-assisted tools for language editing, grammar correction, or formatting may be acceptable, provided such use is disclosed where appropriate.

However:

  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

  • AI-generated scientific conclusions, data, figures, analyses, references, or interpretations must not be presented without substantial human verification and intellectual contribution.

  • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted content.

The journal reserves the right to request clarification regarding the use of AI during manuscript preparation.

6. Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

Global Science Today has zero tolerance for research misconduct.

The journal investigates allegations involving:

  • Plagiarism

  • Self-plagiarism beyond acceptable limits

  • Duplicate or redundant publication

  • Data fabrication

  • Data falsification

  • Image manipulation

  • Citation manipulation

  • Peer-review manipulation

  • Ethical approval violations

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

All manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection and image analysis software prior to publication.

7. Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose all financial, institutional, personal, or professional relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.

Editors and reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and withdraw from handling manuscripts where impartiality may reasonably be questioned.

8. Editorial and Peer Review Integrity

Global Science Today operates an independent and unbiased peer-review system.

Editors and reviewers must:

  • Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

  • Provide objective and constructive evaluations.

  • Avoid discrimination or personal bias.

  • Declare competing interests.

  • Refrain from using unpublished information for personal advantage.

Attempts to manipulate the peer-review process, including fabricated reviewer identities or fraudulent reviewer recommendations, constitute serious publication misconduct.

9. Investigation of Ethical Concerns

When potential misconduct is identified:

  1. The editorial office conducts a preliminary assessment.

  2. The Editor-in-Chief reviews the available evidence.

  3. Authors may be asked to provide explanations, original data, ethics approvals, or supporting documentation.

  4. Independent experts or editorial board members may be consulted when necessary.

  5. The journal follows COPE guidance when determining appropriate action.

Where appropriate, institutions, funding agencies, or regulatory bodies may be informed.

10. Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

To preserve the integrity of the scientific record, the journal may publish:

  • Corrections (Errata or Corrigenda)

  • Expressions of Concern

  • Retractions

These notices will remain permanently linked to the original article and will clearly explain the reason for the editorial action.

11. Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial or ethical decisions by submitting a written explanation with supporting evidence.

Appeals are reviewed independently by the Editor-in-Chief and, where appropriate, additional editorial board members or external experts. The journal's final decision will be communicated after completion of the review.

12. Enforcement and Sanctions

Confirmed violations of this policy may result in one or more of the following actions:

  • Rejection of the manuscript.

  • Suspension of editorial processing.

  • Publication of corrections or retractions.

  • Temporary or permanent prohibition from future submissions.

  • Notification of authors' institutions, funding agencies, or relevant authorities.

  • Notification of indexing services where appropriate.

  • Non-refund of Article Processing Charges (APCs) in cases involving confirmed ethical misconduct.

13. Author Declaration

By submitting a manuscript to Global Science Today, the corresponding author confirms that:

  • The manuscript is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

  • All listed authors meet accepted authorship criteria and have approved the submission.

  • The research has been conducted ethically and complies with applicable regulations.

  • Any use of Artificial Intelligence has complied with the journal's AI policy.

  • No authorship positions were bought, sold, or assigned through third-party brokers.

  • All conflicts of interest have been disclosed.

  • The authors agree to comply with the editorial and ethical policies of the journal.

Submission of a manuscript to Global Science Today constitutes acceptance of this Ethics, Misconduct & Publication Integrity Policy.