Policies – Nature's Symphony

Policies and Guidelines

Nature’s Symphony is a bi-annual, peer-reviewed open access journal focused on advancing discussions in natural sciences. Nature’s Symphony follows a comprehensive set of policies and guidelines to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics.

In this section, you will find an outline of the policies regarding manuscript submission, peer review processes, authorship criteria, ethical guidelines, copyright policies, and more. These policies are established to ensure fairness, transparency, and quality in all aspects of the journal’s operations.

Scope

Nature’s Symphony welcomes original research articles, reviews, and perspectives in natural sciences, with a particular emphasis on:

Biology: All aspects of biology, from molecular and cellular biology to ecology and evolution. For details, please visit Aims & Scope.
Chemistry: All aspects of chemistry, from organic and inorganic chemistry to physical and analytical chemistry. For details, please visit Aims & Scope.
Physics: All aspects of physics, from classical and quantum mechanics to astrophysics and cosmology. For details, please visit Aims & Scope.

While Nature’s Symphony has a broad interdisciplinary scope, manuscripts must demonstrate clear relevance to fundamental or applied natural sciences.

We encourage submissions that:

Offer fresh perspectives: Challenge existing paradigms and advance our understanding of natural sciences.
Emphasize interdisciplinary connections: Highlight the interplay between different areas of natural sciences and their broader implications.
Emphasize scientific rigor: Provide robust evidence and methodological clarity to support the findings.
Communicate effectively: Present complex ideas in a clear, concise, and engaging manner.

Nature’s Symphony is committed to providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives within the scientific community. We welcome submissions from researchers at all career stages, from established academics to early-career scientists. We also encourage contributions from a global audience, reflecting the richness and diversity.

We believe that by uniting scientific rigor with an appreciation for the beauty and wonder of nature, Nature’s Symphony can contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of natural sciences.

Author(s) Contributions/Credits Policy

This policy aims to establish criteria for authorship by ensuring proper credit is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to a research article accepted for publication in Nature’s Symphony. Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. Authors must detail their specific roles and contributions according to the CRediT taxonomy. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining clear and transparent authorship standards. Therefore, all authors are required to meet the following criteria:

Significant contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
Drafting or critically revising the article for intellectual content.
Final approval of the version to be published.
Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work to ensure its accuracy and integrity.

Authorship should reflect each author’s relative contributions to the research study, acknowledging that practices may vary across disciplines. The following general guidelines apply:

The main author, who made the most substantial contribution to the research (both in practice and in writing), should be listed first.
Co-authors should be listed in descending order according to their relative contribution.
The designated corresponding author should be clearly identified and will be responsible for communication with the journal and readers.

In the event of a conflict of interest regarding authorship, the journal’s Editor-in-Chief or a designated Senior Editor will mediate the discussion between the involved parties. Decisions on authorship will be based on adherence to the criteria mentioned in this policy, with a fair assessment of contributions and consultation with appropriate experts when needed.

Any changes in authorship, including additions, deletions, or rearrangements, after the article has been submitted for publication, require the written consent of all involved authors. These changes should be promptly communicated to the journal’s editorial team with a clear rationale for the modifications. Such changes, if necessary, must be reported to the editorial team even after the peer review process but before publication.

Affiliation Policy

Nature’s Symphony requires corresponding authors to ensure that all authors have provided a comprehensive list of all relevant affiliations associated with their research work. This information is crucial for accurately representing the authors’ institutional associations and research environment.

If an author changes their affiliation during the manuscript preparation process, they may update their affiliation before the final publication. However, once the manuscript is published, the author’s affiliation will remain unchanged in the published version.

In cases where authors have multiple affiliations, they are required to specify the order of their affiliations as primary, secondary, or tertiary institutions. The total number of affiliations listed should not exceed ten per author.

Independent researchers who are not affiliated with any institution are required to mention their independent status in their author affiliation information.

By providing accurate and up-to-date affiliation details, authors can ensure that their research work is properly contextualized and that their institutional associations are correctly represented in the published manuscript.

Citation Guidelines

Nature’s Symphony adheres to the citation guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follow valuable recommendations to ensure accurate and ethical citation practices. Some citation guidelines based on COPE rules are as follows:

Accurate and Complete Citations

Authors are required to furnish precise and thorough citations for all sources cited in their research. This includes essential details like authors’ names, article titles, journal titles, publication years, volume numbers, and page numbers. When referencing online sources, researchers should incorporate persistent identifiers like DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) or URLs for proper attribution.

Citing Previous Work Appropriately

Authors are advised to acknowledge and reference previous research that has impacted or added value to their own work. Proper credit should be given to the original authors by including their work in the reference list or using appropriate in-text citations. This includes citing both published and unpublished works (with permission) that have played a substantial role in shaping the research or analysis.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their citations accurately attribute ideas, data, and text to their original sources. When directly quoting or paraphrasing other works, authors must clearly indicate the original source. Verbatim text should be enclosed in quotation marks and accompanied by a proper citation to the initial source.

Transparent Self-Citation

Authors should exercise restraint in self-citing to avoid the appearance of bias or manipulation. Self-citations should only be used when necessary to provide relevant context or acknowledge previous related work by the author. When including self-citations, authors must adhere to the same standards of accuracy and completeness as citations to other authors’ works, as outlined in the COPE guidelines related to text recycling.

Correcting and Retracting Citations

If authors discover errors or omissions in their published articles, they are expected to issue corrections or retractions promptly. These corrections should be transparently communicated to readers and publishers, with a clear explanation of the changes made to the original publication.

Cross-Checking Citations

Authors are responsible for thoroughly verifying the accuracy of their references and ensuring that all cited sources are trustworthy and credible. Additionally, authors should adhere to the specific citation format required by the journal, whether it be APA, AMA, IEEE, Chicago, or another style, to maintain consistency and precision in their citations.

Citing Reliable Sources

Authors are advised to prioritize citing sources that are peer-reviewed, credible, and reliable, such as scholarly journals, books, and conference proceedings. These sources undergo rigorous evaluation and are considered authoritative in their respective fields, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the cited information.

Adhering to Copyright Guidelines

Authors must respect copyright regulations and obtain permission to reproduce copyrighted materials when necessary. Proper attribution and citation of sources, including the authors’ own previously published work, is essential to respect the rights of creators and maintain the integrity of scholarly communication.

Conflict of Interest/Competing Interest Policy

Nature’s Symphony have established a comprehensive conflict of interest policy to ensure transparency, integrity, and unbiased decision-making in the publishing process. This policy applies to all individuals involved, including editors, editorial board members, reviewers, authors, and staff.

A conflict of interest occurs when personal, professional, financial, or institutional affiliations may influence an individual’s judgment or decision-making. Potential conflicts include financial relationships, personal connections, institutional biases, and intellectual or professional conflicts.

All parties must disclose any actual or potential conflicts:

Authors: Must disclose conflicts related to their research or funding in the manuscript.
Reviewers and Editors: Must disclose conflicts relevant to the assigned manuscript and notify the journal if any arise.
Editorial Board Members: Must disclose conflicts that may affect their duties.
Staff: Must disclose potential conflicts arising from their publishing roles.

Disclosed conflicts are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief to assess their impact on impartiality. Appropriate management measures may include reassignment, obtaining additional expert opinions, or excluding individuals from decisions where conflicts exist.

The journal ensures transparency by indicating identified conflicts in published articles or on the website. Strict confidentiality is maintained, with conflict information shared only with those directly involved in evaluation and decision-making.

Nature’s Symphony continuously monitors and updates the conflict-of-interest policy to align with best practices, ensuring fairness, transparency, and high ethical standards in scholarly publishing.

Conflict within the Editorial Board

Advisory board members and guest editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest associated with their roles. If conflicts of interest are found, they may be excluded from making decisions regarding manuscripts that present such conflicts.

Process of Disclosure

Authors must disclose any potential conflict of interest regarding their research or funding sources in a designated section of the manuscript, following the journal’s guidelines (refer to the attached Template for the conflict-of-interest statement). Reviewers and editors are obliged to disclose any conflict of interest pertinent to the manuscript assigned to them for review, promptly informing the journal’s editorial office of any conflicts that arise during the review process. Editorial board members are expected to disclose any conflicts that could affect their decision-making or editorial responsibilities. Similarly, staff members affiliated with Nature’s Symphony should disclose any potential conflicts of interest stemming from their roles in publishing procedures.

Dealing with the Conflicts

Editorial decision-making considers conflicts of interest to maintain unbiased and objective processes. The disclosed conflicts are reviewed by the journal’s Editor-in-Chief or a designated Editor to assess their potential impact on impartiality. Measures to manage conflicts may include refraining from certain tasks, assigning alternative reviewers or editors, or seeking additional expert opinions. The journal maintains transparency by clearly identifying any conflicts of interest, either in published articles or on the journal’s website. The editorial team handles disclosed conflicts with strict confidentiality, sharing information only with those directly involved in evaluation and decision-making.

Appeals of Authors

Nature’s Symphony’ editorial team diligently considers matters of academic integrity, although authors may not always agree with specific decisions. This policy is applicable to all authors who have submitted manuscripts to Nature’s Symphony and seek to challenge a decision made by the editorial team or raise concerns about the publication process. Authors have the option to appeal or lodge a complaint if they believe there has been a significant error or procedural irregularity in the review or publication process. Grounds for appeal or complaint include, but are not limited to, inadequate or biased peer review, unfair treatment or discrimination, allegations of plagiarism or academic misconduct, procedural errors during submission or review, and misinterpretation or misapplication of the journal’s guidelines or policies.

Process and Handling

Authors are required to reach out to the journal’s editorial team within a fifteen-day window following the decision or incident, outlining the reasons for their appeal or complaint through a formal letter or email. The appeal is then evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief or an Editor to determine its validity and decide on the appropriate course of action. Valid appeals or complaints undergo re-evaluation and investigation by an independent reviewer. Following this process, the author is notified of the decision within a reasonable timeframe, which may involve upholding the original decision, nullifying the previous review based on the assessment of the independent reviewer, offering an opportunity for revised submission or re-review, providing an apology or explanation for procedural errors, or taking other suitable actions as deemed necessary by the Editor-in-Chief. It’s important to note that authors cannot contest the final decision made by the Editor-in-Chief.

Continuous Improvement

All appeals and complaints will be handled with utmost confidentiality, and reviewers will be chosen for their expertise and impartiality. Personal data will be managed in compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations. This structure guarantees that issues are promptly and fairly addressed while maintaining the integrity of the editorial process and the journal’s reputation.

Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawal Policy

Nature’s Symphony follows COPE guidelines and industry best practices regarding corrections, retractions, and withdrawals. Below are some key principles and notable features:

Corrections

Nature’s Symphony swiftly assesses and rectifies errors, inaccuracies, or ambiguities identified in published articles. Authors are urged to promptly report any errors to the journal. Corrections will explicitly describe the nature of the error and offer accurate information to address it. They will be published as an erratum or corrigendum, directly linked to the original article. The journal ensures readers’ awareness of corrections by prominently featuring them on the website and updating metadata accordingly.

Retractions

Retractions are issued when articles are discovered to have significant flaws, contain fraudulent data, or involve ethical misconduct. Each retraction is accompanied by a thorough explanation, outlining the reasons for the retraction, including the specific misconduct or flaws identified. Retracted articles are prominently labeled as “retracted” on the article page, with a visible watermark indicating their retracted status. While retracted articles remain accessible for transparency, a full retraction notice is prominently displayed to alert readers. The journal notifies indexing services and databases of the retraction and requests necessary updates.

Withdrawals

Authors have the option to request article withdrawals prior to publication, and their requests will be considered if they are supported by valid reasons, such as the discovery of significant errors or unforeseen circumstances. The journal will evaluate withdrawal requests taking into account the publication stage and their potential impact on the scholarly record. Withdrawn articles will be distinctly marked as “withdrawn” (relevant only for those articles with published abstracts online), and a notice will be prominently displayed on the journal’s website.

Research Misconducts Policy

The journal’s policy regarding research misconduct adheres to the guidelines set forth by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics). Research misconduct encompasses various unethical practices, including but not limited to fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, and other unethical research behaviors.

Reporting of Misconduct

A confidential and easily accessible reporting system will be established for individuals to report suspected instances of research misconduct. Timely reporting will be promoted to address misconduct promptly and to safeguard whistleblowers from potential retaliation.

Assessment of the Misconduct

The initial step involves conducting a preliminary evaluation of reported misconduct to decide whether additional investigation is merited. During this phase, the credibility of the accusations and the presence of supporting evidence will be carefully scrutinized. Following this, an impartial investigation will be conducted to probe substantiated allegations of research misconduct. An investigation committee, comprised of individuals with expertise in research integrity and ethical standards, will be assembled for this purpose. Throughout the investigation process, confidentiality and impartiality will be rigorously maintained to uphold the integrity of the proceedings. The results of the investigation will be promptly and transparently communicated to the relevant parties. Decisions made will be accompanied by a clear explanation, ensuring that they are grounded in the evidence collected during the investigation.

Corrective Measures & Appeals

The severity and type of research misconduct will dictate the appropriate corrective measures and sanctions. Possible actions range from issuing formal corrections or retractions to publishing expressions of concern, informing pertinent institutions or funding bodies, and imposing publication bans. Accused individuals have the option to appeal any concerns or conflicts raised during the investigation process or regarding its outcomes to the Rector. It will be guaranteed that the appeals process is fair, transparent, and overseen by independent individuals or committees.

Editors / Chief Editors Code of Conduct

Confidentiality

The editor will ensure the confidentiality of the manuscript, maintaining the anonymity of both authors and reviewers, with the exception of the editorial team and individuals directly engaged in the publication process.

Fairness and Unbiasedness

In order to guarantee equitable and impartial treatment of all submitted manuscripts, regardless of authors’ backgrounds, affiliations, or personal conflicts, decisions regarding the manuscripts must be based solely on their merit, taking into account factors such as quality, relevance, and contribution to the field. Editors refrain from participating in the decision-making process in instances where conflicts of interest may arise.

Editorial Independence

The editor must uphold editorial independence and integrity, ensuring that the journal remains free from any unwarranted influence, whether from individuals, organizations, or commercial interests. Decisions regarding submitted manuscripts should be based solely on academic and scientific principles, devoid of any political, financial, or personal pressures.

Transparency and Accountability

Editors are responsible for offering authors and reviewers explicit and transparent instructions concerning the journal’s policies, submission procedures, and peer review protocols. They should promptly communicate their decisions to authors, furnishing constructive feedback and concise justifications for any editorial rejections or requested revisions. Editors must also address any complaints, appeals, or concerns raised by authors and reviewers regarding the editorial process.

Ethical Standards

Editors maintain elevated ethical standards and advocate for the responsible conduct of research and publication. They remain vigilant in detecting and resolving potential ethical concerns, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflicts of interest, adhering to relevant guidelines and protocols. When instances of ethical misconduct are identified in published articles, editors take suitable measures, including corrections, retractions, or sanctions, to address the issue effectively.

Editors’ Professional Development

Editors commit to remaining abreast of the most recent advancements in their field and enhancing their professional proficiency through engagement in pertinent training sessions, workshops, and conferences. They endeavor to enhance the caliber and influence of the journal by actively pursuing and integrating optimal practices in scholarly publishing and editorial administration.

Policy about Availability of the Data:

Data Availability

Nature’s Symphony has the option to ask authors to incorporate a data availability statement (refer to the Template) in their manuscripts. This statement should transparently indicate whether the data will be openly accessible or subject to certain limitations. If the data are openly accessible, authors are required to specify the location where the data can be obtained (e.g., repository, website, supplementary materials). In cases where the data are restricted, authors must provide reasoning for the restrictions and outline the conditions under which access may be granted.

Open Data

Nature’s Symphony advocates for authors to prioritize the openness of their data whenever feasible, thereby guaranteeing adherence to the FAIR principles: findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. Authors are prompted to deposit their data in reputable and established repositories or archives. Furthermore, the adoption of data citation practices is encouraged to ensure accurate attribution of datasets.

Exceptions

Nature’s Symphony recognizes instances where data sharing may need to be restricted due to legal concerns such as intellectual property rights, or ethical considerations like confidentiality and privacy. In such exceptional cases, authors are required to provide a transparent explanation in the data availability statement outlining the rationale behind the restriction.

Access to Data

Nature’s Symphony is urging authors to furnish metadata, documentation, or data access agreements for restricted data. Additionally, authors are encouraged to supply comprehensive descriptions of their data collection, processing, and analysis methodologies to bolster transparency and reproducibility.

Validation and Reproducibility

Nature’s Symphony prioritizes the reproducibility of findings, urging authors to share essential data and code. Authors are expected to include details about data validation processes, such as quality control measures, as well as any potential limitations of the data.

Compliance

Nature’s Symphony guarantees that authors adhere to policies regarding data availability and sharing. Reviewers and editors play a crucial role in ensuring authors’ compliance with these policies.

Use of Figures, Tables, and Images in Articles

Nature’s Symphony will implement a policy governing the use of images, tables, and figures in articles to maintain uniformity, excellence, and ethical standards in visual presentations.

Copyright Compliance

Strict compliance with copyright regulations and obtaining permission for copyrighted material such as images, tables, figures, and data is obligatory. Any copyrighted material incorporated into the manuscript must be accurately cited.

Authenticity and Originality

All data, tables, images, and figures (excluding reused copyrighted material) included in the manuscript must be genuine, original, and precise. Any alterations made to figures, images, or tables must be transparently disclosed and explained. The utilization of deceptive or misleading data is explicitly prohibited.

Appropriateness and Clarity

Tables and figures/images are crucial for enhancing the comprehension of the research presented in a manuscript. They must be relevant and numbered sequentially with clear and descriptive titles. Each table and figure should be referenced in the text to aid in understanding the research findings. Authors must ensure that figures and images are clear and well-labeled, particularly in the case of graphs. If a figure consists of multiple images, it should be presented as a cohesive group.

Ethical Use of Images

Consent must be obtained from research participants who are identifiable in photographs or images. Additionally, it is important to avoid using images or figures that are offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate.

Resolution and Quality

Authors must submit high-resolution images and figures to ensure clarity and readability in the article. It is important to avoid low-resolution images or figures that could compromise the comprehension of the content.

Formatting and Consistency

Authors should adhere to the journal’s guidelines and formatting requirements for presenting images, tables, and figures, using the provided Word template. Maintaining consistent formatting across all articles is essential for a cohesive and professional appearance in the journal.

Permissions and Citations

Authors must obtain appropriate permissions and provide citations for all images, tables, and figures used from external sources. This includes citing the original source and complying with any licensing requirements.

Plagiarism Policy

At Nature’s Symphony, we place a strong emphasis on originality to maintain the integrity of the research we publish. All submitted articles must be the original work of the authors and should not have been previously published or submitted elsewhere simultaneously. Nature’s Symphony strictly follows the plagiarism guidelines set by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, as outlined at https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/policies/Pages/Plagiarism.aspx.

To ensure originality, Nature’s Symphony utilizes plagiarism detection tools and thorough editorial review processes to identify and address issues related to plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Authors are expected to carefully review and revise their work to ensure its originality before submission.

When AI-generated content is used, authors must disclose the involvement of AI tools and provide details about the tools utilized. This transparency ensures the accurate representation of human researchers’ contributions. Nature’s Symphony acknowledges the educational value of AI tools in research and encourages articles that explore the use of AI in research methodologies. For further details, refer to the guidelines on authorship and AI tools by COPE.

Peer Review Policy

Peer reviewers assess the adherence to reporting guidelines to evaluate the manuscript’s quality and credibility. For editorial appropriateness, the Editor-in-Chief assigns an editor to evaluate the scope and conduct an initial desk review of the submitted manuscript to ensure its suitability technical correctness. Once the manuscript meets the minimum editorial standards and aligns with the journal’s scope, it proceeds to the peer review process, which strictly follows the double-blind peer review policy. This model maintains objectivity, minimizes bias, and upholds the highest standards of academic integrity by keeping both authors and reviewers anonymous to each other. Submission does not guarantee acceptance. Manuscripts may be rejected during initial editorial screening or after external peer review based on scope, quality, ethical compliance, and reviewer recommendations. Final publication decisions rest with the Chief Editor or assigned Editor, and authors retain the right to appeal editorial decisions.

Role of Reviewers

Reviewers have the crucial task of critically analyzing the assigned research article based on its relevance to the field and the scope of the journal. It’s essential that their feedback be constructive, honest, and respectful. For more detailed guidance, reviewers should refer to the COPE guidelines for peer review. These guidelines help ensure that the peer review process maintains high standards of professionalism and integrity.

Research Ethics Guidelines

Objective and Scope

Nature’s Symphony upholds integrity, transparency, and responsible conduct of research by adhering to specific guidelines. For detailed information, please refer to the guidelines provided by COPE (https://publicationethics.org/oversight) which can be accessed. These rules serve to maintain the highest ethical standards in research publication and ensure the trustworthiness of the published work.

Ethical Guidelines for Authors

All authors must uphold ethical principles in conducting research, ensuring the protection of human subjects, animals, and the environment. This includes obtaining informed consent, maintaining confidentiality, and handling data appropriately in compliance with relevant legal and ethical regulations. Studies involving human subjects should have approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee, and authors should provide detailed information about the ethical considerations, consent process, and approval in their manuscripts. When research involves animals, authors must adhere to established guidelines for animal welfare and fair treatment, minimizing stress and harm. Originality, accurate reporting, and proper citation of original sources are emphasized to prevent plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Authors are encouraged to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their research or its interpretation.

Peer Review Process

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors play a crucial role in ensuring the ethical conduct of the journal. The editorial team operates independently, transparently, and without bias when evaluating and selecting manuscripts. Any allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or other unethical practices, are handled by the team under the guidance of editors. The committee’s decisions regarding corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern related to ethical issues identified post-publication are final.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Authors must adhere to relevant ethical standards, guidelines, and regulations, including obtaining necessary approvals and permissions for their research. It is expected that authors include details of ethical considerations, approvals, and informed consent in their manuscripts. International ethical guidelines, such as the Declaration of Helsinki for medical research involving human subjects or the ARRIVE guidelines for animal research, should be followed rigorously. Additionally, when conducting research on plants, authors must uphold conservation ethics and consider the ecological impact of their methods. This involves employing sustainable collection and cultivation techniques and carefully assessing the effects on plant populations and surrounding ecosystems.

Reporting and Investigation of Ethical Concerns

Any violations of academic integrity will be promptly reported to the relevant editors. All reported ethical issues will be handled with fairness and due process, ensuring that proper investigations are conducted and appropriate actions are taken.

Education and Awareness

Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to stay updated on ethical guidelines, best practices, and developments in their respective fields.

Harassment of Authors and Editors

Addressing harassment is paramount for maintaining a safe and respectful environment within the journal’s working team and safeguarding the well-being of authors, editors, and the production team. Nature’s Symphony is committed to upholding the harassment policies outlined by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The key points of this policy include:

1. Condemning harassment in all its forms, including verbal, written, online, discrimination, and bullying.

2. Emphasizing that harassment in any form is intolerable.

3. Affirming that individuals associated with the journal, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the production team, have the fundamental right to work in a safe and harassment-free environment.

Reporting Mechanisms

The reporting mechanism ensures both confidentiality and accessibility for reporting harassment incidents. Complaints can be forwarded to a designated contact person, such as the journal’s editor or senior editor, or to a harassment handling committee. This approach allows individuals to report incidents in a safe and confidential manner, ensuring that appropriate action can be taken to address the issue while respecting the privacy of all parties involved.

Investigation Process

To maintain objectivity in the investigation, the journal may involve external experts or advisors when necessary. This ensures a fair and unbiased approach to handling harassment complaints.

Support and Protection

It will be ensured that victims of harassment have access to resources for assistance and counseling. Protective and preventive measures, such as maintaining anonymity and enforcing strict disciplinary actions, will be implemented to prevent any further instances of harassment.

Disciplinary Actions

Appropriate disciplinary actions for individuals found responsible for harassment may include, but are not limited to, sanctions, warnings, removal from editorial roles, or legal consequences. The specific actions taken will depend on the severity of the harassment or misconduct by the accused.

Awareness and Training

Nature’s Symphony will organize regular training sessions and awareness programs to educate individuals associated with the journal about harassment, its impacts, and preventive measures. These trainings will extensively cover topics such as diversity and inclusion, respectful communication, and techniques for preventing harassment behaviors.

Transparency and Accountability

Transparency will be ensured by publicly stating the harassment policy and updating it as necessary. To maintain accountability, regular updates regarding the progress and outcomes of harassment investigations will be provided.

Accessibility Policy

Nature’s Symphony ensures that our content is accessible to all readers, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. We are committed to enhancing the accessibility of published research by using the Open Journal System (OJS). We welcome feedback from users regarding accessibility concerns, as it helps us identify areas for improvement and enhance the accessibility of our platforms.

Open Access Statement

Nature’s Symphony follows an Open Access approach, meaning that articles published in the journal are freely available to readers without any access restrictions. Researchers are allowed to print individual online published articles, but the printing of full versions by organizations or publishers is strictly prohibited. Open Access ensures that research findings are accessible to researchers, educators, policymakers, and the public, regardless of geographical location or institutional affiliation. Moreover, Nature’s Symphony also offers print versions on demand.

Digital Archiving Policy

To ensure the availability of published articles, Nature’s Symphony maintains digital archives of published material, making them accessible to readers at any time. For this purpose, Nature’s Symphony ensures long-term digital archiving and preservation of its published research articles through the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN). Additionally, the metadata is compatible with repository services to enhance preservation.

Digital Object Identifiers (DOI)s

Nature’s Symphony assigns DOIs to all the published articles to ensure persistent identification and reliable citation. DOIs ensure that citations to published articles remain accurate and retrievable over time, providing a reliable means of accessing and referencing the work.

Archival Practices

Published articles and associated metadata are archived in PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN), which ensures that articles are stored in formats that maintain readability and accessibility over time. Additionally, accompanying metadata are preserved to retain contextual information about the articles. Archiving practices are carefully designed to ensure content availability for the foreseeable future, safeguarding against technological changes and obsolescence.

Author Self-Archiving Policy

Nature’s Symphony encourages authors to display their published work on personal websites, social media handles, and institutional repositories. This practice not only increases the visibility of the articles but also contributes to enhanced data analytics.

Article Processing Fee (APC)

Effective July 2025, Nature’s Symphony charges an article processing fee (APC) for manuscripts accepted for publication, to support the publication process. APC for local submissions is PKR 8,500, while the APC for international submissions is USD 100. The fee will be applicable only upon acceptance of the manuscripts, and there are no other hidden charges.

APC Waiver Policy

Nature’s Symphony considers APC waivers or discounts for authors from low-income countries or in cases of demonstrated financial hardship. Authors can apply for the waiver by submitting Waiver Request Form available in the Downloads section.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automated Tools Policy

For Authors

Authors must disclose the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) or automated tools in the preparation of their manuscripts, beyond basic language editing, formatting, or grammar correction. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of all content generated with the assistance of AI tools. Automated tools and AI systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Generative AI outputs cannot be cited as primary sources.

For Peer Reviewers and Editors

Peer reviewers and editors must not use generative AI or automated tools to produce peer review reports or editorial decisions, due to risks related to confidentiality, bias, inaccuracy, and intellectual property. Limited use of AI for language editing or readability improvement may be permitted if confidentiality is maintained and use is transparently disclosed.

For Journal Operations

The journal may employ automated tools for routine publishing functions such as plagiarism detection and reference checking. All such tools are used under human oversight, and editorial staff verify any automated findings before decisions are made.

Copyrights and Permissions

Nature’s Symphony is committed to promoting knowledge sharing, collaboration, and responsible use of published content. To facilitate these principles, articles are published under specific licenses that dictate how readers, researchers, and the broader community can use, share, and build upon the published work. Authors retain full copyright to their work under the CC BY 4.0 license, while granting Nature’s Symphony the right to publish the work by signing a License to Publish agreement.

Creative Common Attribution License (CC by 4.0)

Nature’s Symphony publishes articles under Creative Commons (CC) licenses, embracing the open-access philosophy to promote unrestricted access to scholarly content. All articles published by Nature’s Symphony are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even for commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors. Authors retain the copyrights to their manuscripts. This arrangement allows authors to maintain control over their intellectual property while enabling the journal to publish their work. The publication may include general descriptive names, trade names, and trademarks that are protected by relevant laws and regulations. The information in the journal is believed to be true and accurate at the time of publication; however, neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions. The published material is the sole responsibility of the author, and Nature’s Symphony is not liable.

Promoting Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

By publishing under Creative Commons (CC) licenses, authors contribute to the dissemination of knowledge, allowing others to freely access, reuse, and build upon their work. Nature’s Symphony’ commitment to CC licenses aligns with the principles of open science, promoting collaboration, innovation, and the advancement of scholarship.

Repository and Self-Archiving Policy

Nature’s Symphony permits authors to deposit and share all versions of their manuscripts—including preprints, accepted manuscripts, and the final published version – in institutional repositories, subject repositories, or other scholarly platforms of their choice. No embargo period is applied. Authors are encouraged to include appropriate citation details and DOI links to the published version.

Registration of Trials and Systematic Reviews

Nature’s Symphony recognizes the importance of research transparency, accountability, and comprehensive reporting. To uphold these principles and enhance the quality of published work, Nature’s Symphony requires the registration of clinical trials and systematic reviews in recognized public databases.

Trial Registration

To enhance transparency and reduce bias in clinical research, authors of clinical trials must register their studies in a recognized public database before enrolling participants. The registration information, including the trial protocol and primary outcomes, should be detailed within the manuscript.

Clinical trials must be registered in publicly accessible trial registries recognized by organizations such as WHO’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) or ClinicalTrials.gov. Clinical trials conducted in Pakistan must adhere to the guidelines and regulations set forth by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and other relevant regulatory bodies.

Systematic Reviews Registration

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential components of evidence-based research. To promote transparency and prevent duplication of effort, authors conducting these studies should register them in an appropriate database. This registration should clearly outline the study’s objectives and methodology. Systematic reviews should be registered in specialized registries, such as PROSPERO or similar platforms.

Advertisement Policy

Nature’s Symphony upholds a strict no-advertisement policy on our publication platforms to maintain the integrity, focus, and credibility of our content. By not accepting or publishing advertisements, we ensure editorial independence, preventing commercial interests from influencing scholarly work. This approach enhances content clarity and credibility, allowing readers to engage with the material without interruptions or distractions for a seamless experience. Additionally, it reinforces our commitment to unbiased reporting, promoting research accuracy and transparency. Our policy fosters an environment conducive to scholarly exchange and engagement, ensuring that Nature’s Symphony remains a trustworthy, credible, and focused platform for high-quality research dissemination.

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.

Editorial Independence Statement

The payment of APCs has no influence on editorial decisions, peer review outcomes, or acceptance of manuscripts.