Publishing Ethic
Materials Engineering and Technologies (MET) is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity in scholarly publishing. Our policies align with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and address ethical conduct for authors, reviewers, editors, and the journal itself.
1. Ethical Guidelines for Authors
Authorship and Contributions
- Authorship must reflect substantial intellectual contributions to the research, including experimental design, data analysis, or manuscript drafting.
- Ghost or Gift Authorship is prohibited; all contributors must be listed with explicit approval.
- Corresponding authors must ensure all co-authors approve the final manuscript.
Originality and Plagiarism
- Submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere.
- Plagiarism Check: All manuscripts are screened via iThenticate. Manuscripts with >15% similarity (excluding references) are rejected.
- Self-Plagiarism: Reuse of prior work (text, figures, or data) must be properly cited and limited to <10% of the new submission.
Data Integrity
- Reproducibility: Authors must provide detailed protocols (e.g., sintering parameters, XRD analysis settings) to enable replication.
- Raw Data: Submission of raw datasets (e.g., .stl files for 3D printing, EBSD maps, stress-strain curves) is mandatory.
- Falsification/Fabrication: Manipulated data (e.g., altered SEM images, omitted mechanical test outliers) will result in immediate retraction.
Conflict of Interest
- All financial, institutional, or personal conflicts (e.g., patent filings, corporate funding) must be declared.
2. Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers
- Confidentiality: Manuscripts under review must not be shared or discussed without permission.
- Objectivity: Reviews should focus on scientific merit, avoiding personal criticism.
- Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline invitations if they have competitive, collaborative, or financial ties to the authors.
3. Ethical Guidelines for Editors
- Fair Evaluation: Editors ensure submissions are evaluated solely on academic merit, regardless of authors’ nationality, gender, or affiliation.
- Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff must protect manuscript details during and after review.
- Conflict Management: Editors with conflicts (e.g., prior collaboration with authors) must recuse themselves from decision-making.
4. Handling Ethical Violations
Investigation Process
- Suspected misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fraud) is investigated by the editorial board in accordance with COPE protocols.
- Authors are given an opportunity to respond to allegations.
Outcomes
- Corrections: Minor errors (e.g., mislabeled figures) are addressed via an erratum.
- Retractions: Serious ethical breaches (e.g., fabricated data, undisclosed conflicts) result in retraction with a public notice.
- Blacklisting: Repeat offenders may be barred from future submissions.
5. Data Sharing and Accessibility
- Open Data: Raw datasets (e.g., .cif files for crystallography, DSC thermograms) must be archived in public repositories (e.g., Figshare, Zenodo).
- Post-Publication Access: Corrections, retractions, and comments are publicly accessible and linked to the original article.
6. Special Considerations for Materials Science
- Hazardous Materials: Submissions involving nanomaterials, toxic solvents, or high-risk processes must include institutional safety approvals.
- Standardized Reporting: Adherence to community guidelines (e.g., ASTM standards for mechanical testing, MIAB for biomaterials).
- Multidisciplinary Studies: Works combining materials science with AI, energy systems, or bioengineering require cross-disciplinary ethical oversight.
7. Reporting Concerns
- Suspected ethical violations should be reported to ethics@met-journal.org.
- Complaints are investigated confidentially and resolved within 4–6 weeks.
By adhering to these principles, MET ensures transparency, accountability, and trust in the dissemination of materials science research. For further details, consult our Ethics Handbook or contact the editorial office at met@gospub.com.
