BAUST Journal: Publication Ethics Guidelines

At BAUST Journal, we are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scientific publishing. These guidelines are established to ensure the integrity, credibility, and quality of the research disseminated through our journal. Authors, editors, and reviewers are expected to adhere to these principles to maintain the ethical fabric of scholarly communication.

Adherence to Ethical Standards

BAUST Journal aligns with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, emphasizing ethical conduct throughout the publication process. We prioritize transparency, fairness, and accountability.

Article Assessment

All submitted manuscripts undergo a comprehensive peer review process to guarantee academic excellence. Our team may seek external advice on submissions with notable ethical implications, such as those involving security, biosecurity, or societal impacts.

Plagiarism

Authors are strictly prohibited from using the words, figures, or ideas of others without proper attribution. To prevent plagiarism, all manuscripts undergo a thorough check using tools like PlagScan. Plagiarism is generally not allowed however, a similarity of up to 15% is allowed. The decision to reject a manuscript due to plagiarism rests with the handling editor.

Duplicate Submission and Redundant Publication

BAUST Journal considers only original content that has not been previously published. Simultaneous submission elsewhere or redundant publication is not tolerated and may result in rejection or sanctions.

Citation Manipulation

Authors are expected to use citations for legitimate academic purposes. Any manipulation of citations, such as including references solely to inflate citation counts, is considered unethical.

Fabrication and Falsification

Authors found to have fabricated or falsified results, including the manipulation of images, will face sanctions. Published articles with such issues may be retracted to maintain the trust and credibility of our journal.

Authorship and Acknowledgments

All listed authors must have made a significant scientific contribution, approving the claims presented in the manuscript. Author contributions should be transparently communicated, and any conflicts of interest must be disclosed.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must declare all potential conflicts of interest, including financial, affiliations, intellectual property, personal, ideology, and academic connections. Transparency in declaring conflicts allows for informed decisions during the review process.

Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers are expected to recuse themselves from submission if they have conflicts or affiliations with the authors. Reviewers must declare any remaining interests in the confidential section of the review form.

Sanctions

Breaches of ethical standards may result in various sanctions, including rejection of the manuscript, submission bans, and prohibition from acting as an editor or reviewer. Severe violations may incur additional sanctions determined by the editorial board.

Investigations

Suspected breaches of publication ethics should be reported to the BAUST Journal editorial team. Anonymous reporting is facilitated to encourage openness and the fair assessment of ethical concerns.

Corrections and Retractions

Errors identified in published articles will be addressed through corrigenda or errata. Severe errors or misconduct may require retraction following COPE Retraction Guidelines. Authors will be involved in the process, and corrections will be made transparently.

These comprehensive guidelines are fundamental to maintaining the credibility, quality, and ethical standards of BAUST Journal. Adherence to these principles is crucial for fostering a culture of integrity in scientific research and scholarly publishing.