If you are interested to volunteer in improving the quality of Earthzine publications, please sign up as a reviewer. If you want to further involve in contributing, managing and soliciting Earthzine publications, consider joining us as an Editor.

Reviewer Guidelines

Earthzine is not a fully technically peer-reviewed publication, but maintains high standards and accountability through a formal review process of the articles it receives. Earthzine relies on reviews by subject-matter experts to maintain the accuracy, appropriateness and quality of its content.

Earthzine aims to publish respectful, informative and thought-provoking content about the benefits of using Earth information in our daily lives. Reviews serve to provide constructive feedback to authors on ways to improve their writing and effectiveness in reaching Earthzine readers. For information on style, format, content and length, refer to Writer Guidelines.

Reviews should address the following:

• Importance and interest to Earthzine readers;
• Scientific soundness - only a brief check is expected, not rigorous review;
• Degree to which technical statements are backed by citations and/or expert opinion;
• Degree to which conclusions are supported;
• Originality;
• Organization and clarity;
• Length relative to information content;
• Citations and hyperlinks;
• Quality and relevancy of graphics and/or images.

When reviewing an article, suggest revisions and comments via the options available in Word/Libre/Open office. When submitting reviews, identify comments meant for the author and those meant only for the editor. Comprehensive justification should be provided for articles recommended for rejection.

Confidentiality and Objectivity

Reviewers usually maintain confidentiality about the manuscript they are reviewing. Your review and your recommendation also are considered confidential. You are welcome to disclose your identity to the authors; otherwise, your review will be shared with the author as anonymous. If you feel you are unable to provide an objective review, please notify the corresponding editor.

Questions to consider when reviewing:

• Is this article potentially of interest to non-science-background readers also ?
• Is the title pertinent and understandable?
• Are technical statements that are not common knowledge, backed by sufficient citations or expert opinion ?
• Are all important assumptions (or speculations) clearly stated?
• Has the author obtained necessary permissions to use the figures shown, or are they allowed to be licensed, or otherwise from a Creative Commons licensed source ?
• Is there sufficient supporting visual content ?
• Are all the figures and tables necessary and of good quality?
• Are the captions appropriate and informative?
• Is the English understandable?
• Is IEEE citation style followed?

Please address questions or comments about the review process to Earthzine’s Editor-in-Chief at earthzineeditor@ieee.org.

Associate Editors

Interested in helping further? Apply to join our Editorial team.

As Associate editor, your role involves promoting the reputation and reach of Earthzine, engaging writers and getting reviews done for articles submitted. This includes the following:

  • Solicit potential authors to submit articles to Earthzine. Oceans conferences are an ideal venue for this.
  • Coordinate submissions for thematic content to upcoming publications
  • Periodically cover Oceans/Earth science related events and conferences and summarizing them into coverage articles. The events can include OES events such as Oceans conferences, or any other conferences of relevant area.
  • Manage the review and editing of articles submitted by other authors to Earthzine, by finding reviewers to review submitted articles for which you are the handling editor. This may involve you having to review the article briefly as well, especially if a copyediting review is required.
  • Take up potential future themes and soliciting submissions for those as Theme editors (see below).
  • Coordinate with other volunteers on activities.
  • Contribute to all aspects of web content.

Editorial Policy

Earthzine is an online publication that fosters Earth observation, utilization of Earth information, sustainability, and global awareness. In so doing, Earthzine welcomes submissions that explore the disciplinary and regionally diverse topics encompassing Earth observation, application of Earth information and sustainable practices for the benefit of humanity.

Earthzine editors review submitted material for content, accuracy and appropriateness and may forward submissions to external subject-specific experts for additional review. Each submission may be edited for length, language, and factual content. Authors are provided an opportunity to review and revise the edited draft and respond to reviewers’ comments prior to publication. The final decision to publish is made by the Editor. Considerate debate and discussion are encouraged in comments posted on Earthzine’s blog. Earthzine espouses the values of tolerance and respect in the content it posts.

The diversity of viewpoints and opinions is extensive. To accommodate and foster the benefits of this diversity, Earthzine encourages the inclusion of a wide range of perspectives in a vibrant discourse on relevant contemporary issues. Earthzine views favorably the submission of thoughtful and stimulating articles, Opinion Essays, Editorials, and Letters that offer fresh perspectives. The categories in which submissions are published are at the discretion of the Editor. Authors should consult Earthzine Writer’s Guidelines for further information.

Views offered in published material are those of the submitting author, and not the Earthzine staff, Editor, IEEE, or Earthzine sponsors.