Editorial and Peer-review Process

We recommend reading this section, especially if it is the first time that you are submitting an article to GEUS Bulletin. Here, we outline the editorial process from the moment we receive your submission through to peer review and publication, including how to report an issue with your submission.

All research papers published in GEUS Bulletin are peer-reviewed by at least two scientists who are expert in their fields. Submissions are by the GEUS Bulletin online submission system and undergo the process outlined in the following sections.

Topics covered in this page include:

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Initial checks

All manuscripts are initially examined by one or more members of the editorial team and run through CrossRef Similarity Check plagiarism software (iThenticate). A manuscript that fails the plagiarism check or falls outside of the journal’s remit may be unsuitable for publication. Manuscripts will be returned to the corresponding author if the submission is incomplete or requires significant editing for language, readability or structure.

The corresponding author will be notified if the submission is unsuitable for publication in GEUS Bulletin, along with an explanation. Likewise, we will notify the corresponding author if the manuscript, figures or tables require revisions before they can proceed to peer review. We will always provide feedback and instructions to help authors prepare their manuscript for resubmission.

Related information is available in the following pages: Preparing an initial submission and Formats and publishing criteria

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Peer review

Submissions deemed suitable for peer review will be assigned to an editor, who arranges for the submission to be reviewed by at least two (independent) scientists who are experts in their fields. After receiving the reviewers’ comments, the editor takes the decision to accept the manuscript subject to a full readability and language edit, request revisions (with or without another round of peer reviews) or to decline the manuscript. Their decision is based on feedback from the reviewers and their own editorial judgement and will be clearly communicated to the corresponding author with a detailed explanation.

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Resubmission

In preparing a resubmission, authors should read and address all the comments and edits from the reviewers and the editor handling their submission. Depending on the extent of revisions required, authors may be asked to prepare their manuscript according to the initial submission guidelines or the final submission guidelines. Authors should follow the editor’s instructions to ensure that they submit the correct files for production and copyediting.

After receiving revised files, the editor takes the decision to (1) accept the manuscript subject to a full readability and language edit, (2) request further revisions (with or without another round of peer reviews) or (3) to decline the manuscript.

The editor will inform the author of the time-frame available to submit revised files. Typically, this is 30 days from receipt of the editorial decision email. It is the responsibility of the author(s) to submit revised files on time. Authors should contact the editor handling the submission if an extension is needed or if they do not intend to submit revisions. An editor should contact the author(s) if a deadline is missed and may ultimately decline a manuscript if revised files are not returned on time.

Related information is available in the following page: preparing a final submission

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Pre-production

To maintain the professional standard of articles published in GEUS Bulletin, all accepted articles undergo a thorough language and readability edit prior to production and publication. This is conducted by a member of the journal editorial team before the files are sent to production. No scientific changes or addition of figures or data should be made at this point.

At this stage, our editorial team ensures that the manuscript is generally readable and suitable for a broad geoscientific audience, follows a good structure with a clearly defined research question, aims and objectives, and so far as possible adheres to subject- and regional-specific standards. For example, ensuring the correct spelling of Greenlandic place names. The editorial team also checks that the total word count and display items (figures and tables) adhere to the guidelines and that the final submitted display items  are ready for publication. This stage may require multiple rounds of edits between the editorial team member and the corresponding author.

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Production

Once the editorial team member and corresponding author have agreed on the final version, it is sent to production. The corresponding author will receive the typeset and copy-edited proofs for their approval. No significant changes or addition of figures or data should be made at this point.

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Publication

Approved PDF proofs are published immediately online at www.geusbulletin.org. Articles published in or after 2019 are available in PDF, EPUB, HTML and Side by Side formats designed for optimal reading, online.

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Types of peer review

GEUS Bulletin adheres to a semi-open or a single-blind review process. Specifically, the editor’s name will always be made known to the authors and reviewers. The authors’ names will always be known to the editor and reviewers. And by default, the reviewers' names are included in the published PDF of the article. However, a reviewer can request to remain anonymous when they return their review comments. In such cases, it is the reviewer’s responsibility to ensure that they have anonymised their comments and any edited manuscript file included in their review.

The editorial team aims to complete the initial in-house checks within five working days, but this may be delayed during busy periods or the holidays. Authors should note that it can take two weeks (sometimes more) to assign an editor and find suitable reviewers, and for all reviewers to accept and receive the manuscript files.

Requested review turn-around times are as follows:

  • Short-format articles: two weeks
  • Regular-length articles: four weeks
  • For particularly large manuscripts (including MONOGRAPHS or MAP DESCRIPTIONS): six to eight weeks

However, we appreciate that reviewers volunteer their time to deliver a comprehensive and considered review. As such, these deadlines are flexible and a longer review turnaround time is often granted according to the size of the submission and reviewer availability. 

Related information is available in the following pages: Author instructions and Reviewer instructions

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Reporting a dispute

How to report a dispute largely depends on the nature of the dispute, who is raising it and the stage at which the dispute is raised.

Most disputes that arise during the editorial and review process can be resolved between the editorial team and the authors or reviewers. For example, where the authors dispute the validity of comments made by a reviewer, or where the authors disagree with a subject editor’s advice for resubmission. Usually, such issues can be discussed between the parties, and a consensus reached.

In the first instance, we ask that the parties discuss the issue to try to find a solution. Where a dispute cannot be resolved in this way, the issue can be raised with the editor in chief.

All complaints, appeals or allegations of misconduct can be addressed in writing to the editor in chief at complaints@geusbulletin.org.

Read more about how to report a dispute, declare a competing interest and raise an anonymous complaint in our publishing ethics pages.

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Pre-submission editing services

A poorly written manuscript or an illogical structure, can distract the reviewers. Manuscripts that suffer from these issues to the extent that they are likely to prevent the reviewers from judging the scientific merits of the work, will be returned to the authors with advice for how they might improve and prepare a resubmission.

For corresponding authors with a GEUS affiliation, we offer a pre-submission language and developmental editing service of manuscripts, for free. Here, the authors receive an edited and commented version of their manuscript, and a short summary report to highlight the main areas that could benefit from revision before submission

Using this service in no way guarantees acceptance of a manuscript. But it does help authors to prepare their manuscript to a good level of English, with a logical structure and catches any editorial inconsistences before the manuscript is submitted for peer review. This helps the editor and reviewer to concentrate on the scientific merit of the work without distractions. This service is subject to availability.

Contact us at enquiries@geusbulletin.org to learn more.

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