Southern Journal of Sciences: Open Access and Funding Policies

Document version 1.1. Last review: 28/12/2024.

Commitment to Platinum Open Access

Since August 2023, the Southern Journal of Sciences (SJS) has operated under the Platinum Open Access model, ensuring free access and publication for all research. This eliminates financial barriers for authors and readers, promoting equitable global knowledge sharing. Rigorous double-blind peer review guarantees quality, while our policy ensures no Article Processing Charges (APCs) or mandatory fees.

Financial Sustainability Framework

To maintain this model, SJS relies on institutional partnerships, voluntary donations, and optional author services. Open access publishing is not without costs. Key principles include:

  • Institutional Support: Collaborations with universities and research organizations are publicly acknowledged, with no influence on editorial decisions.

  • Individual Contributions: Donations from the scientific community are welcome but subject to ethical guidelines. Authors must wait 6 months post-publication to contribute, ensuring editorial independence. Anonymous donations are prohibited. No donations are allowed for manuscripts under review.

  • Transparency: All financial flows, including service contributions and donations, are detailed in annual reports. Funds support platform maintenance, peer review management, and digital preservation.

Your generous financial support also contributes to the Southern Journal of Sciences (SJS) and Araucária Scientific Association Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Initiative.

Research Funding Declarations

Authors must disclose all financial support in the manuscript's Declarations section. Normally one of these models will be appropriate (variations and combinations are welcome):

External Funding:

(Sample text) This research and its publication was supported by grant number XXX, and YYYY institutional support.



Self-Funded Research and Publication:

This research and its publication was funded by the authors.



Publication Support Statement: Required for authors that wish or need to publish with zero cost:

In accordance with the ethical guidelines of the Southern Journal of Sciences, which do not allow donations from authors with manuscripts under evaluation (even when research funds are available), or in cases of authors' financial constraints, publication costs were fully absorbed by the journal under our Platinum Open Access policy, through the support of the Araucária Scientific Association (https://acaria.org/). This policy aims to ensure complete independence between the editorial process and any financial aspects, reinforcing our commitment to scientific integrity and equity in knowledge dissemination.



Optional Services Statement

The Southern Journal of Sciences (SJS) offers optional support services for researchers while maintaining our core commitment to Platinum Open Access publishing. These services are voluntary contributions, completely separate from the publication process, with no mandatory fees. Researchers can choose to utilize these services or handle such tasks independently through other channels. Through this approach, SJS aims to enhance the research experience while preserving our principles of open, equitable, and transparent publishing.

Optional High-Value Added Services

To enhance researcher support without compromising free publication, SJS offers voluntary services:

  1. Early Acceptance Confirmation Letter
    • Issued pre-publication for authors requiring documentation.
    • Contribution: US$150.
  2. Acceptance Letter for Article Publication
    • Formal post-acceptance letter confirming peer review completion.
    • Contribution: US$200. Note: Issued only after final acceptance; revocable if concerns arise.
  3. Specialized Language Revision
    • Grammar, style, and academic alignment.
    • Contribution: US$100–200 (varies by length).
  4. Translation Services
    • Portuguese to English. Ensures technical precision and preserves scientific rigor.
    • Contribution: US$250–450.
  5. Advanced Statistical Analysis
    • Complex data treatment and methodology verification.
    • Contribution: US$100–500.
  6. Academic Formatting
    • Aligns manuscripts with the journal standards.
    • Contribution: US$150.
  7. Plagiarism Verification
    • Comparative analysis and similarity report.
    • Fee: US$50.

Key Principles for Optional Services

  • No service affects publication decisions or timelines.
  • Authors with financial constraints retain full publication access.
  • Refunds are not issued for optional services; responsibility lies with the corresponding author.

Pricing Strategy & Ethics

  • Fees reflect service complexity and market competitiveness.
  • Transparency is prioritized: services are optional, with no hidden costs.
  • Editorial integrity remains paramount; financial factors never influence peer review.

Contact

For inquiries about services, donations, or policies, contact our administrative office.

Our Mission

SJS reaffirms its commitment to democratizing science through barrier-free access, ethical practices, and high-quality scholarly exchange. Together, we foster innovation and global scientific collaboration.