Southern Journal of Sciences: Open Access and Funding Policies

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

Commitment to Platinum Open Access (no fees or APCs)

Financial Sustainability Framework

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.

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 (Conflict Management): 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.

Discount and Waiver Policy

As the journal has no APCs, there is no need for a Discount and Waiver Policy.

Payment Methods

The Southern Journal of Sciences (SJS) operates under a Platinum Open Access model, ensuring that there are no mandatory publication fees. However, for optional high-value-added services, such as acceptance letters or specialized language review, payments can be made via PayPal. Authors interested in these services should indicate their request in the cover letter, and the journal will provide the necessary payment instructions, typically through PayPal.

Research Funding Declarations (Declaration Requirements)

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):

Format Guidelines

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 (Specific Requirements): 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.

or

This article's publication costs were fully absorbed by the Southern Journal of Sciences under our Platinum Open Access policy, with support from the Araucária Scientific Association (https://acaria.org/). The journal maintains strict ethical guidelines that prohibit accepting donations from authors during manuscript evaluation, regardless of their funding availability. This approach ensures complete independence between editorial decisions and financial considerations, reinforcing our commitment to scientific integrity and equitable 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. There is a no refund policy, as there is no mandatory fee.

Pricing Strategy & Ethics

  • Prices 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.


Advertising

The SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES maintains strict standards regarding advertising to ensure the integrity of our academic content and the trust of our readers. This policy governs all forms of advertising and promotional content associated with the journal.

Content Guidelines

The journal accepts advertisements that are relevant to our academic community and align with our scholarly mission. Acceptable advertising content includes:

  • Academic conferences and scientific meetings
  • Research equipment and laboratory supplies
  • Scientific books and publications
  • Academic job postings
  • Educational programs and professional development opportunities

Approval Process

Every advertisement undergoes a careful review process before acceptance:

  • Initial screening by the journal's administrative staff for basic eligibility
  • Review by the editorial board for content appropriateness
  • Final approval by the Editor-in-Chief
  • Written confirmation to advertisers regarding acceptance or rejection

Editorial Independence

The journal maintains complete separation between advertising and editorial content:

  • Advertising content is clearly marked as such and visually distinct from academic content
  • Advertisers have no influence on editorial decisions or peer review
  • Editorial board members and reviewers are prohibited from involvement in advertising decisions
  • The journal reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement that might compromise editorial independence

Pricing Structure

Advertising rates are standardized and transparent:

  • Website sidebar advertisements: we will not make, sorry.
  • Conference and event announcements: free, no costs.
  • Job postings: free, no costs.
  • Special positions or customized formats: Subject to individual quotation

Restrictions

The following types of advertisements are not accepted:

  • Products or services that could compromise research integrity
  • Political, religious, or ideological content
  • Personal advertisements or announcements
  • Products making unsubstantiated scientific claims
  • Content that could bring the journal or academic publishing into disrepute

Additionally, advertisements must not:

  • Mimic the journal's editorial style or format
  • Use the journal's logo or name without explicit permission
  • Imply endorsement by the journal or its editors
  • Contain misleading or comparative claims about competitors

For inquiries about advertising opportunities or to submit advertisements for consideration, please contact the journal's administrative office. The journal reserves the right to modify this policy as needed to maintain our commitment to academic integrity and editorial independence.