Special Issue Questionnaire - Elsevier



Special Issue QuestionnairePublishing a special issue (SI) with Elsevier’s Science of the Total Environment should convey certain up-to-date, currently important research trends/themes. Papers published in special issues should cover exceptional topics and be comparable to or even better than regular papers in quality. All special issues (SI) are now composed of papers that are published as soon as they are accepted and are not physically joined in a single printed journal issue. Rather, they are collated in a single on-line issue and can be from multiple journals. The majority of submissions will be full research papers, or review articles. For examples of recent SIs. For examples, see proposal of SI is to be addressed to one of the two SI Editors: Elena Paoletti (paoletti.elsevier@) or Paola Verlicchi (Verlicchi.elsevier@) and to the publishing content specialist Ms Yixuan Zhao (y.zhao@), by using the template that follows.The Guest Editor(s) (GE) is/are responsible for proposing the manuscripts for the SI. This selection should be based on scientific quality of the papers, and the topic of these papers should clearly fall within the scope of the SI. STOTEN is available for launching calls for SI papers, even though SIs based only on open calls are discouraged. The final selection should form a coherent and complete set of papers, with the option for an introductory paper or preface.Every SI proposal will be reviewed by three STOTEN editors/board members. Final approval on the SI proposal will be communicated to the GE usually within three weeks from submission. Once it gets approval, publishing content specialist, Ms Yixuan Zhao (y.zhao@), will help to set up the SI and register the GE(s) in Elsevier Editorial System. Please note that:1. The selection of papers for the SI should be conducted solely on a merit basis. 2. You need to suggest 3-4 Guest Editors (GE) from different institutes and preferably from different countries and/or continents. GEs need to have expertise within the topics of the SI and preferably familiar with EES/EVISE submission systems. GEs must be committed to respect the journal standards e.g. in the case of STOTEN GEs are requested to find a sufficient number of reviewers (the optimal is 4-5) within a week from the assignment of the manuscript, and get a decision within a week from receiving the completed reviewers’ comments, ideally within 4-5 weeks from assignments.3. To minimize any conflict of interest, GEs should not submit multiple manuscripts to the SI they handle.The GE's name will appear as Editor in the article info once the paper is published. For instance:4. All submissions will undergo the same rigorous external peer review as regular stand-alone research papers and review articles. 5. The SI will be overseen by the SI Editor designated by the journal. All manuscripts with acceptance recommendations by the GEs will be returned to the MGE and then the SI editor for final approval. Editorial and Peer Reviewing ProcessUpon submission, SI manuscripts are distributed by the SI Editor to the managing guest editor (MGE) and from her/him to the GE(s), who will handle the peer-reviewing process per journal standard, which is essential to ensure that only quality papers are published. The SI Editor may decide to reject unsuitable submissions without review rather than assign them to the GE(s). A tutorial and guidelines for peer-review will be provided (see also and ).It is IMPERATIVE that all authors submitting manuscripts identify their association with the Special Issue, via their submission letter and by selecting the right article type.Each paper must be reviewed by at least two or three international specialists (as some do not reply or do not make a good job, we recommend to invite four or five reviewers). GEs should provide explicit recommendations for revision to authors, and ensure that revision is in accordance with their recommendations and the reviewers’ comments. In order to ensure transparency, editors must ensure that all papers are to be peer reviewed as far as possible by scientists outside the circle of volume contributors. The reviewers are the choice of GEs. In case GEs experience difficulty in finding appropriate reviewers, it is suggested to consult the local EES Find Reviewer tool or SCOPUS for help.Guest Editors are not obliged to accept any submission, even if invited, and should reject any submissions that are substandard. Guest Editors may do this either before or after peer review.Normally, revised manuscripts needing major revision are sent back to the original reviewers for another review.When the peer-review is concluded, GEs will then send their recommendation on the revised manuscript to the managing guest editor (MGE), together with a short rationale clarifying the reasons for their recommendation. The final decision is at the end taken by the SI editor.In case GEs are involved as author for manuscripts for the SI, the other appointed GEs will handle these manuscripts. To avoid the appearance of Conflict of Interest, GEs are discouraged from submitting multiple manuscripts to the same SI.The total editing process is accomplished online through Elsevier Editorial System (EES). Our Journal Manager, Pallavi, is in charge of technical issues and production related work for the journal. Pallavi @ Science of the Total Environment: j.scitotenv@.With this in mind, please answer the following questions as thoroughly as possible as it will aid greatly in the smooth operation of publishing your Special Issue. This questionnaire will be evaluated by the SI Editors before a decision is communicated to the applicant, usually in three weeks.Basic informationPlease provide information of all the Guest Editors in the below tableTitleGiven nameSurnameOrganizationEmail addressTel numberPostal addressPrevious editorial experienceWho will be the Managing Guest Editor that will take overall responsibility for managing the SI and may assign papers to other Guest Editors, according to the SI workflow of the journal.The tentative title of the Special Issue as to appear on Science Direct. Please also suggest a short title to be identified easily by authors in the submission system (max. 25 characters including spaces).Introductory text piece of the Special Issue (max 2000 characters, ideally 1000):The number of expected papers to be published in this Special Issue (subject to approval from the publisher); a minimum of 10-15 papers is required for a Special Issue:Please list previous special issues on the same or similar subject published in Environmental Pollution, Environment International, Science of the Total Environment, Environmental Research and Chemosphere (provide journal name, publication year, and Special Issue topic). Any experience with EES is useful. Experience with editorships for other Elsevier journals or indeed other publishers is useful as well.Specification on the sources of submissions for an SI (e.g. conference, open call, or both). Please note that STOTEN discourages special issues based only on an open call.TimelinesIt is important that GE(s) plan a realistic timeframe. Inexperienced GEs usually tend to suggest a too short submission window and then have to re-apply for re-opening (which takes time)Once agreed upon with the SI Editor, GE(s) inform potential/invited authors of the detailed time schedule.As the submission and editorial process unfold, the agreed time schedule must be adhered to. We will therefore monitor deadlines closely and will work with GE(s) to stick to the agreed schedule. EES will be set up by the first expected submission deadline. Once EES is open, GE(s) will receive a notification letter with detailed submission link and guidelines. Submission deadline: GE(s) organize potential authors to complete their submissions this deadline. Authors should be informed that the submission window will close at the deadline.Acceptance deadline: GE(s) coordinate with authors for revision and works to end the editorial and review process by the acceptance deadline.Publishing Content Specialists Ms Yixuan Zhao (y.zhao@) will send EES status overviews to Guest Editor(s), and a reminding letter when an important deadline is approaching.Reasonable extension in the time schedule is possible, if mutually agreed upon. SIs that have been severely delayed risk rejection in the final evaluation stages. If there are papers that cannot be delivered in time and delay too long the whole process, the SI Editor will direct them to publish as regular papers upon acceptance.First submission date (xxx):The date by which all papers should be submitted to the Guest Editors for review and the submission site will be closed (usually 2-3 months):The date by which manuscripts should be fully reviewed and final decisions made (usually 5-6 months):The date the Special Issue is expected to be closed (usually 1-2 months after final acceptance):Please note that all articles will be published in regular issues after acceptance, and a SI link will later be created to group special issue articles.The above timeline for submission and review must be adhered to. We will therefore monitor deadlines closely and will work with you to stick to the agreed schedule. Conference information (if relevant; otherwise please fill in “none”)Please indicate the full name of the conference and the contact details of the person who represents the Organizing Committee.Date, venue and website of the conference.Disclosure of potential financial conflict of interestsAre there any financial arrangements between you [or, if relevant: between the conference organizers] and the authors (e.g., upon acceptance of their paper) or are there any potential conflicts of interest that we need to know about? If so, please specify.Tentative list of manuscriptsIn the case of conferences, it is reasonable that the full list of selected manuscript is submitted after the conference. In such a case, tentative titles should be listed here below at submission of the questionnaire.No.TitleAuthorsCorresponding author’s emailRecommended Guest EditorCOI*Y/N*Please mark any conflict of interest between authors and Guest EditorChecklist for Special IssuesWhen finalizing, please ensure that the following information is available: Sequence of papers.Special issue title to appear online at ScienceDirect.Guest Editor(s) names, and order to appear on cover of the special issue.Logo or sponsorship information (if applicable).Name, date and place of conference where papers were presented (if the special issue is derived from a conference).Guest editorial to the special issue.OffprintsThe corresponding author, at no cost, will be provided with a PDF file of the article via e-mail (the PDF file is a watermarked version of the published article and includes a cover sheet with the journal cover image and a disclaimer outlining the terms and conditions of use). For an extra charge, paper offprints can be ordered via the offprint order form which is sent once the article is accepted for publication. Both corresponding and co-authors may order offprints at any time via Elsevier's WebShop (). Authors requiring printed copies of multiple articles may use Elsevier WebShop's 'Create Your Own Book' service to collate multiple articles within a single cover ().No complimentary copies will be provided. SI copies can be purchased by contacting the Publishing Content Specialist, who will provide the necessary price list.ProofsAll corresponding authors will receive galley proofs for checking. ColourColour on the web is free, whilst colour in the printed version of the SI is subject to charges. Authors will be provided the cost of colour figures once the papers are accepted. They must indicate which Figures are requested to be published in colour in the printed version, and that they are willing to cover the costs involved. Open Access EmbargoPlease contact the Journal Manager, Pallavi Das (P.Das@) to embargo the article/issue in our submission system. ReleaseIf your paper results in a press release, you may want to inform us so that we can also share: Twitter: @Damia_Barcelo, @EnvSciHealth, @ELSenviron @ElsevierConnect @ElsevierNews @STOTEN @env_int_journal? @ElenaPaoletti63.Facebook: : . Sponsor AccessSpecial issue can be sponsor accessible to non-subscribers for 6 or 12 months after all articles are published. For more details related sponsor access, please contact Publishing Content Specialist Ms Yixuan Zhao (y.zhao@). Useful linksSTOTEN homepage and guide to authors: & . EES Training Resources: Or contact paoletti.elsevier@ Evise training resource: informationDr. Elena Paoletti HYPERLINK "mailto:paoletti.elsevier@" paoletti.elsevier@Dr. Paola Verlicchipaola.verlicchi@unife.itSpecial Issues Editors, Science of the Total EnvironmentJob responsibility: coordinate acceptance of SI proposals and peer-review of SI submissionsMs Yixuan Zhao y.zhao@Publishing Content SpecialistJob responsibility: coordinate the whole publication process, monitor progress and deadlines, assist and support Guest Editor on any queries Ms. Pallavi DasJournal ManagerP. HYPERLINK "mailto:A.Louis@" Das@Job responsibility: in charge of EES technical issues and production work for the journal, support the editorial process, and handle the production and online publication of the special issueDan LovegrovePublisher – Environmental Science & Health journalsd.lovegrove@ ................
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