Publication Ethics

The Life Sciences and Environmental Research Journal (LSERJ) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in the publication of scientific research. We recognize the importance of maintaining transparency, integrity, and accountability in the academic publishing process. Our Publication Ethics Policy ensures that all authors, reviewers, and editors adhere to the ethical guidelines that govern the production and dissemination of scholarly content.

Responsibilities of Authors:

• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their submitted work is original and has not been published elsewhere. Any previously published material must be appropriately cited or acknowledged. Plagiarism, in any form, including self-plagiarism, will lead to immediate rejection of the manuscript.
• Data Accuracy and Transparency: Authors must provide accurate data and must not manipulate or falsify results. All data used in the research should be presented transparently, and the methodology should be described in sufficient detail for the work to be reproducible.
• Authorship and Contributions: All individuals who have contributed significantly to the research should be included as authors. Authors should ensure that all co-authors approve of the final manuscript and its submission. The order of authorship should accurately reflect their contributions to the work.
• Conflicts of Interest: Authors are required to disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that may affect the objectivity or integrity of their research.
• Human and Animal Research: Authors must ensure that their research involving human participants or animals complies with ethical standards, and they must include approval statements from relevant ethics committees or institutional review boards. Informed consent should be obtained from all human participants.

Responsibilities of Reviewers:

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep the contents of the manuscript confidential and not share or discuss the manuscript with anyone not involved in the review process.
• Objective Evaluation: Reviewers are expected to evaluate the manuscript objectively, providing constructive feedback based on scientific merit. Personal biases or conflicts of interest must not influence the review process.
• Timeliness: Reviewers must complete their reviews in a timely manner and notify the editor if they are unable to review the manuscript due to time constraints or conflicts of interest.
• No Plagiarism: Reviewers should report any suspected plagiarism or duplicate publication they encounter during the review process.

Responsibilities of Editors:

• Fairness and Transparency: Editors must handle manuscripts in a fair, unbiased, and transparent manner. They should make decisions based solely on the scientific quality and relevance of the work, without regard to the authors’ identities or affiliations.
• Confidentiality: Editors must ensure that manuscripts and their contents are kept confidential until they are published. The identity of reviewers and authors should remain confidential unless explicit consent is given.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors should disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality in decision-making. Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a direct conflict of interest.
• Ethical Decision Making: Editors must act promptly and appropriately when issues of misconduct arise, including plagiarism, data falsification, or ethical violations. This may include retracting articles or notifying the relevant authorities.

Editorial Board’s Role: The editorial board ensures that the journal adheres to these ethical standards, and they play an essential role in handling ethical issues, including allegations of misconduct. The editorial board also works to ensure that the journal remains transparent and accountable, promoting the highest standards of academic publishing.

Publication Ethics Violations: If any ethical violations are detected, LSERJ follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for dealing with such issues. This may involve retractions, corrections, or other actions as appropriate. LSERJ is committed to resolving any ethical concerns with integrity and fairness, maintaining the credibility and reputation of the journal.

By adhering to this Publication Ethics Policy, LSERJ ensures the integrity of the academic publishing process, promotes transparency, and fosters an environment where researchers can publish high-quality and ethically sound research.