Publishing Policies & Research Standards

Scientific scope is an essential criterion in the editorial and peer-review process. Authors are responsible for selecting the SWS Proceedings series and scientific section that most accurately correspond to the principal subject, objectives, methodology, application, results, and conclusions of their manuscript.

For multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research, the use of a particular method, technology, terminology, or general sustainability concept does not by itself establish scope alignment. The scientific content and principal contribution of the manuscript must substantively correspond to the scientific domain of the selected Proceedings series and section.

Where a manuscript has a genuine scientific connection to the selected scope, but this connection is insufficiently developed or clearly demonstrated, the Corresponding Author may be invited to revise and refocus the manuscript so that its research objectives, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusions more clearly reflect the relevant scientific domain. Such scope alignment must be supported by the actual research content and must not be achieved solely through the addition of keywords, terminology, general references, or statements that do not materially relate to the study.

If, following such revision or clarification, the manuscript remains outside the scope of the initially selected Proceedings series or scientific section, but its scientific content falls within the scope of another SWS Proceedings series, the SWS International Scientific Committee may reassign the manuscript to the Proceedings series and scientific section that more accurately correspond to its principal scientific content.

The Corresponding Author will be informed of any proposed editorial reassignment prior to final publication. Where appropriate, the existing peer-review history and editorial evaluation may accompany the manuscript. Authors who do not agree with the proposed reassignment may request withdrawal of the manuscript before final publication.

This procedure is intended to ensure accurate scientific classification, appropriate readership, transparent indexing, and the long-term scientific integrity of all SWS Proceedings series.

Extended Journal Publication Opportunity

Authors of selected conference papers may additionally be invited to prepare and submit a substantially extended version of their research for consideration in an appropriate SWS scientific journal.

An extended journal manuscript must represent a materially developed scientific work and include significant new content beyond the Conference Proceedings version, such as additional data, results, analyses, methodological development, validation, discussion, case studies, or other substantial scientific contributions.

The original Conference Proceedings paper must be clearly disclosed and appropriately cited in the extended manuscript. Submission of an extended version does not guarantee publication. All extended manuscripts are treated as separate journal submissions and are subject to the journal's editorial assessment, originality and similarity requirements, and independent peer-review procedure.

When the article contains research involving human subjects, human material, human tissue or human data, the authors must declare that everything was done in accordance with the rules of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki
https://www.wma.net/what-we-do/medical-ethics/declaration-of-helsinki/, revised 2013.
If there is research, involving special (vulnerable) groups in the research process, it is possible to carry out a check.
Have in mind that:

• The submitted manuscript will be analyzed and documentary evidence, consent, etc. must be provided upon request.
• When studies describe groups by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, disease, etc., an explanation of why such categorization is necessary is also needed.

All research involving human subjects, human material, human tissue, or human data across all domains published by SWS (Earth & Planetary Sciences, Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities) must comply with internationally recognized ethical standards. These include:

• The 1975 Declaration of Helsinki (latest revision 2013) for biomedical and behavioral research.
• The Belmont Report (1979), which outlines principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
• Institutional and national ethical regulations, where applicable.

• In Earth & Planetary Sciences

Research involving indigenous communities, local populations, or traditional ecological knowledge must include prior informed consent and follow ethical guidelines on data sovereignty and indigenous rights.
Studies using geospatial, environmental, or geological data linked to human activity must ensure data anonymization and ethical georeferencing where necessary.

• In Social Sciences & Humanities

Studies exploring cultural, psychological, sociopolitical, or economic aspects of human societies must comply with ethical guidelines for participant confidentiality, anonymity, and data protection.
When reporting on historical, political, or societal issues, authors should avoid bias, maintain academic integrity, and ensure responsible representation of different communities.

• In Arts & Humanities

Research involving oral history, personal narratives, interviews, or ethnographic studies must include explicit participant consent and respect cultural sensitivities.
Studies on artistic expressions, religious beliefs, or heritage preservation should ensure ethical documentation and non-exploitative representation.

The editors will require that the benefits potentially derived from any research that harms the animals, the subject of the article, are significant relative to everything else. It must also be demonstrated that whatever is suffered by the animals and research procedures is unlikely to offend article readers. Authors should in particular ensure, that the manuscript conforms to generally accepted practices, namely:

• If possible, replace animals with alternatives.
• Reducing the number of animals used.
• Increasingly better experimental conditions and procedures.
• Minimizing harm to animals.

Authors should include in their manuscript details of housing, husbandry, and pain management, as well as any necessary care. If the study involves private animals, informed consent from the owner must be provided and applied.

Experimental studies on wild or cultivated plants must comply with institutional, national, or international guidelines. Authors are required to comply with the Convention on Biological Diversity (https://www.cbd.int/) and the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (https://cites.org/eng/disc/text.php). For articles, involving rare plants, specimens should be taken to a museum. Information may also be requested from authors of other articles, investigating the issue to verify the identity of the materials.
All texts should include details of the populations sampled at the point of collection.

Please follow the Sex and Gender in Research (SAGER) Guidelines (https://ease.org.uk/communities/gender-policy-committee/the-sager-guidelines/). Authors should use the terms gender as a biological attribute and gender as a formed by social and cultural circumstances carefully, to avoid confusion of both terms. The titles of the papers should clearly indicate which gender or genders the manuscript is about. If gender and/or gender analysis is not performed, the rationale should be given in the discussion.

Studies involving geopolitical boundaries, disputed territories, and sensitive historical or cultural contexts must adhere to neutral and objective reporting standards.
The SWS Scholarly Society maintains a neutral stance on territorial claims in maps, institutional affiliations, and research locations.

• If a territorial dispute is identified, the editorial team will seek a mutually acceptable resolution while upholding academic integrity.
• Authors must provide accurate and non-partisan descriptions of research locations and affiliations.
• Where applicable, the editorial team will consult external references to ensure fair representation.

The SWS Scholarly Society remains impartial in all geopolitical disputes while ensuring compliance with ethical academic publishing standards.

You can write to the Editorial board here: Contact the SWS team