UNETJOSS: Journal of Science and Society
About the Journal
Journal overview
UNET JOSS is an innovative, multidisciplinary, open access, rapid-peer-review journal covering all aspects of science and society including education. The journal’s original papers are ensured to be of the highest academic standard and are typically ground-breaking, or seen as having significant impact on current research trends or borders. Accordingly, it is anticipated that the ideas and knowledge shared through the journal will be highly engaging and generate great academic and general interest. While our readership cannot be experts in the field of every published article, each article is written to be broadly readable by non-expert academics while also satisfying expert standards (thus representing a writing challenge for all contributing Authors).
UNET JOSS is an innovative, multidisciplinary, open access, rapid-peer-review journal covering all aspects of science and society including education. The journal’s original papers are ensured to be of the highest academic standard and are typically ground-breaking, or seen as having significant impact on current research trends or borders. Accordingly, it is anticipated that the ideas and knowledge shared through the journal will be highly engaging and generate great academic and general interest. While our readership cannot be experts in the field of every published article, each article is written to be broadly readable by non-expert academics while also satisfying expert standards (thus representing a writing challenge for all contributing Authors).
Independent philosophy on impact
- Within academic publishing, much is said about the formal impact factor of a journal; it is common, and reasonable for various reward-based reasons, for an academic to submit a paper on the basis of a journal’s high impact factor.
- It is anticipated that UNET JOSS will, in the fullness of time, be formally rated with a high impact factor, given its emphases on innovation and high standards. However, the attainment of such a rating is not a motivating force for the journal. Rather, we believe that a quality paper can and will make its own high impact regardless of its house publication, provided of course that the house maintains rigorous academic quality control practices within the publication’s overall context.
- We also believe that when an Author submits to UNET JOSS the Author is making a conscious decision to contribute to the Journal’s Mission (see Mission Statement). That is, the Author’s first motivation is: what can I contribute to the Journal’s Mission?, rather than: what can I get out of the Journal? Hence, formal impact factor is not necessarily an overriding motivating factor for our Authors (it is appreciated that not all who consider submission will have the luxury of this choice, given the pressures and expectations of academia).
- Contributing to UNET JOSS being impactful and innovative, the journal avoids what might be considered "routine" research or research with arguably obvious outcomes. It is however recognised that research with expected outcomes in various contexts can play important validation roles and so its importance within some journals is certainly not dismissed and we are always happy to receive suitability enquiries.
Typical review period
- Our editorial team aims for a typical review period of 5 weeks for full papers.
- A quality safeguard that aids the rapid review process places considerable weight on the proven professional publication record of Authors. Accordingly, submissions by first-Authors who have substantiated strong publication records (at least 20 quality peer-reviewed publications, but not all requiring first-Author status) is encouraged.
- First-Authors without a substantiated strong publication record (e.g., early researchers) are still welcome and encouraged to submit a paper, in which case it is a requirement that:
- the paper includes a secondary-Author with a substantiated strong publication record and who has endorsed the quality of the paper; or
- a detailed declaration that an experienced academic/researcher has reviewed, advised upon, and endorsed the quality of the paper be provided (a copy of the review must be included but does not replace the journal’s peer review process).
Publication fees
UNET JOSS requires no publication fees.
UNET JOSS requires no publication fees.
- Note that it is not uncommon for the publication fees of reputable open journals to be in the vicinity of $1,000 to $2000 per paper, especially within scientific disciplines.
- Note also that if an accepted paper is graphically featured within the front cover of an Issue, then the Author of the featured paper may choose to contribute to any unexpected licensing cost of some preferred themed image. However, such a contribution is not compulsory and the accepted paper will retain its feature status even if no contribution is made.
Professionally courteous and supportive review process
- UNET JOSS guarantees a professionally courteous and supportive review process.
- A professionally courteous and supportive review process does not have to equate to a weakness or a lowering of academic standards (it is a sad state of academic affairs if anyone feels the need for some form of mutual exclusivity in this regard).
- However, most academics/researchers would have experienced at least one unnecessarily negative episode when submitting a paper to a journal. Descriptors such as arrogant, condescending, dismissive, closed-to-new-ideas and/or simply rude, in relation to the editorial process and/or Reviewer reports are likely to have been echoed by yourself or a colleague at some stage. In fact, such negative experiences are unfortunately common in what should be a completely professional, respectful and supportive process. UNET JOSS ensures that all editorial correspondences are written in a professionally courteous manner, including Reviewer reports (otherwise the reports will not be accepted).
- Additionally, potential Authors will always be supported by our Editorial Team who will suggest ways to improve a paper for resubmission if the paper cannot be initially accepted; we will help all we ethically can so that you achieve our high standards. Note that given the previously-described peer review quality safeguards, cases of papers requiring major assistance are expected to be rare (naturally, if the advice coming from such assistance is not taken on board then the paper could not be accepted).
- We also encourage Reviewers to disclose their identities on their reports (and so stand behind their comments without anonymity). While this disclosure is at a Reviewer’s discretion, our encouragement to do so emphasises an ongoing commitment to a transparent and supportive process. However, once the review process has commenced, direct correspondence between a prospective Author and Reviewer is forbidden and any correspondence initiated by the prospective Author may result in cancellation of the submission process.
New ideas are welcomed
UNET JOSS encourages new and even unconventional ideas, thinking, hypotheses, etc., provided they are impartially backed with balanced and strong scientific/academic argument, methodology, evidence, etc.
UNET JOSS encourages new and even unconventional ideas, thinking, hypotheses, etc., provided they are impartially backed with balanced and strong scientific/academic argument, methodology, evidence, etc.
Flexibility for Authors
UNET JOSS uniquely offers flexibility for Authors. Some flexibility examples, which also cater to the journal’s multidisciplinary nature, include Author discretion towards:
UNET JOSS uniquely offers flexibility for Authors. Some flexibility examples, which also cater to the journal’s multidisciplinary nature, include Author discretion towards:
- The selection of Section/Subsection headings that best suits a paper.
- Abstract length (should contain approximately 250 words).
- The utilisation of UK/Australian-English or American-English spelling (the consistency of English spelling type is however essential).
- General writing style (e.g., long or short sentences, with perfect grammar being the sole equipment).
- Graphical and tabular styles (see paper template).
- Types of publications (e.g., full original paper, report, review, letter, retrospective, and so on).
Justification for a multidisciplinary approach
- While the multidisciplinary nature of UNET JOSS challenges convention for an academic journal of high standing, we consider it essential for satisfying our Journal’s Mission. Viz., the diverse world of academia is increasingly open to cross-disciplinary collaborations and the knowledge, curiosity, dialogue, and connections that such collaborations produce. By challenging traditional disciplinary boundaries, UNET JOSS creates a space for multiple perspectives reflective of our readership and makes original research visible to a larger, global audience.
- Papers are written to be accessible to a wide academic readership, including non-experts in the Author’s specialty field, and so the use of Appendices provides an effective strategy and opportunity to explain fundamentals that normally would not need explanation. Hence, whether by Appendices or other means, papers will often inherently include a brief review component which presents an opportunity to showcase research to perhaps a broader-than-usual readership outside of the Author’s specialty field (this philosophy should not however be a deterrent from first-and-foremost satisfying the requirements of experts in the field at hand). As mentioned earlier, this philosophy represents a collective writing challenge that we hope all prospective Authors will embrace.
Position on the theological content of papers
Notwithstanding the journal’s affiliation with the Christian University for Australia initiative, original research papers are generally not expected to contain theological content, but rather should stand alone on the basis of their high quality scientific (or similar such formal academic) research. Exceptions can however apply (e.g., research actually intended for theologians, reports on educational or other social programs for which a religious aspect is integral, etc.).
Notwithstanding the journal’s affiliation with the Christian University for Australia initiative, original research papers are generally not expected to contain theological content, but rather should stand alone on the basis of their high quality scientific (or similar such formal academic) research. Exceptions can however apply (e.g., research actually intended for theologians, reports on educational or other social programs for which a religious aspect is integral, etc.).
Journal Mission Statement
To provide an avenue for high quality research outputs, general editorial contributions, intellectual dialog sharing, and collaboration opportunities for those supportive of a rigorous Christian-based academic landscape within the Australasian tertiary sector, thus promoting the Christian University for Australia initiative and its linkages to established international counterparts.
To provide an avenue for high quality research outputs, general editorial contributions, intellectual dialog sharing, and collaboration opportunities for those supportive of a rigorous Christian-based academic landscape within the Australasian tertiary sector, thus promoting the Christian University for Australia initiative and its linkages to established international counterparts.
