Plagiarism Policy

Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering (JESE) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity in all stages of the publication process. Plagiarism, in any form, is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. This policy outlines JESE's approach to plagiarism detection and the consequences of plagiarism for submitted and published manuscripts.

1. Definition of Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s ideas, text, data, or work without proper acknowledgment or citation. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying or paraphrasing parts of a published work without proper citation.
  • Submitting someone else’s work as one’s own.
  • Self-plagiarism, where authors recycle their own previously published work without proper citation.
  • Falsifying or manipulating data and results to mislead the reader.
  • Presenting another person’s ideas, interpretations, or findings as if they were the author’s original thoughts.

2. Prevention and Detection:

  • JESE uses plagiarism detection tools (such as Turnitin, iThenticate, or similar software) to check all submitted manuscripts for similarities with existing published works.
  • The editorial team and reviewers are trained to identify potential cases of plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.
  • Authors are expected to properly cite all sources, including data, ideas, and previously published works, to avoid plagiarism.

3. Consequences of Plagiarism:

  • Initial Screening: If plagiarism is detected during the initial submission, the manuscript will be returned to the authors with a request for clarification or revision. If the authors fail to address the issue adequately, the manuscript will be rejected.
  • During Peer Review: If plagiarism is identified after submission but before publication, the manuscript will be rejected, and the authors may be prohibited from submitting further manuscripts to JESE for a specified period.
  • After Publication: If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be issued. The article will remain available online but will be clearly marked as retracted to maintain transparency.
    • If the plagiarism is of a minor nature (e.g., improper citation), a correction may be issued instead of a retraction.
  • Ethical Violations: If plagiarism or other ethical violations are determined to be intentional, JESE reserves the right to report the incident to the author's affiliated institution or professional body.

4. Author Responsibility:

  • Authors must ensure that their manuscript is free of plagiarism, properly cites all sources, and adheres to ethical research practices.
  • Authors are responsible for ensuring that no part of their manuscript is submitted to multiple journals or conferences without proper citation, and they should avoid submitting previously published material unless explicitly allowed by the journal.
  • All authors must disclose any prior or simultaneous submissions of the manuscript to other journals or conferences.

5. Handling Disputes:

  • In cases where authors dispute allegations of plagiarism, the editorial team will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the validity of the claims.
  • Authors will be given the opportunity to provide an explanation or clarification. The final decision will be made based on the evidence provided and JESE's ethical guidelines.

6. Encouraging Ethical Writing:

  • JESE encourages authors to adhere to best practices for ethical writing, including:
    • Properly attributing all sources of data, ideas, and text used in the manuscript.
    • Avoiding the reuse of their own previously published work without proper citation.
    • Providing transparent and honest reporting of research results, especially in cases involving experimental data and methodology.

7. Educational Resources:

  • JESE offers guidance on proper citation and ethical writing through resources on the journal’s website. Authors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these resources to avoid unintentional plagiarism.

Conclusion:

Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering takes plagiarism very seriously and is committed to maintaining the integrity of its publication process. By enforcing a strict plagiarism policy, JESE ensures that the research published in the journal is of the highest academic quality, ethically sound, and contributes positively to the scientific community.