Submission Process & Ethics

All submissions are first screened by the editorial team to ensure alignment with ÆPTIC’s aims, ethical principles, and scientific standards. Manuscripts outside this scope may be returned without external review.

Qualifying manuscripts proceed to a double-blind peer review conducted by independent subject-area experts, where appropriate.

ÆPTIC encourages research that is non-invasive, coherence-centered, and integrative in its approach. Submissions involving invasive animal testing or genetic modification are generally outside our scope. This reflects our commitment to ethical responsibility, ecological soundness, and planetary health.

ÆPTIC is a fully open-access, independent journal and charges no article processing fees (APC). Editorial decisions are based solely on scientific merit, originality, and alignment with the journal’s vision.

All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) , ensuring global, unrestricted access.

ÆPTIC may publish conceptual or foundational research—such as theoretical frameworks, vision papers, or exploratory models—that align with the journal’s aims and scope. Submissions authored by Editorial Board members are considered only if they have undergone external peer review and are approved through internal editorial consensus, in accordance with ÆPTIC’s ethical and scholarly policies.

Declaration of Generative AI Use

Authors must disclose any use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools in the preparation of their manuscript at the time of submission.

AI tools may be used to support tasks such as language editing, summarization, literature synthesis, or structural organization. However, such tools must not replace human scientific judgment, critical reasoning, or interpretive responsibility.

Authors remain fully responsible and accountable for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content, including verification of references, data, and interpretations. AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors.

If generative AI tools were used, authors must include a disclosure statement in a dedicated section placed before the reference list, specifying the tool used and its purpose. If no generative AI tools were used beyond basic spelling or grammar checks, no declaration is required.

The use of generative AI to create or modify scientific figures or images is not permitted, unless such use is an explicit and reproducible part of the research methodology.

Manuscript Preparation

• Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere. Submissions must not contain plagiarism or duplicate content.
• Manuscripts must be written in English. Authors should ensure clarity, logical flow, and scientific coherence. Inclusive, bias-free language consistent with international standards is encouraged.
• Accepted formats: Microsoft Word (.docx) or LaTeX.
• Figures and tables must be at least 300 dpi, appropriately numbered, and include descriptive captions (PNG, TIFF, or EPS). Include concise alternative text (alt text) for accessibility.
• Supplementary files (e.g., datasets, code, multimedia) may be included and must be referenced in the main text.

Manuscript Structure

• Title: Concise and, where possible, reflective of the study’s key result.
• Title Page: Title, author names, affiliations, and corresponding author contact.
• Abstract: 200–300 words.
• Keywords: 3–7 terms.
• Main Text: Logical structure (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion).
• References: APA 7th or IEEE style, with DOIs where available.

Manuscript Formatting

• Clean, professional academic layout.
• Preferred fonts: Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri (11–12 pt).
• Line spacing: 1.5 or double-spaced.
• Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
• Page numbers included.
• Equations typeset using MathType or LaTeX; SI units used consistently.
• Final typesetting performed post-acceptance.

Data & Code Availability

Authors are encouraged to make data, code, or models available through appropriate repositories or upon reasonable request.

Appeals & Complaints

Authors may submit appeals regarding editorial decisions. Decisions following appeal are final.

Preprint Policy

Manuscripts previously shared as preprints may be submitted. Preprint posting does not constitute prior publication.

Before Submitting

• All authors approve the submission.
• Permissions for third-party materials are secured.
• Ethics approvals documented where applicable.

Need Help?

Contact: editor@aeptic.org