Code of ethics

This Ethics Code for Tecnología y ciencias del agua is intended for editors, reviewers, and authors. It is based on the guidelines of the Committee on Publications Ethics (COPE) and those involved in Tecnología y ciencias del agua (Editorial Board, reviewers and authors) agree to follow this Code of Ethics and any applicable Professional Code of Ethics.

Impartiality

No distinction is made among participants on the basis of sex, religion, ethnic or national origin, sexual preference or any other reason.

Papers are accepted for possible publication as long as they are within the subject matter of the journal.

In case of incurring and proving that there is any act of discrimination, the reviewer or editor may be dismissed or the case may be passed to an institution authorized to attend to the case.

Honesty

The guidelines and policies of the journal will be made available to the public in order to provide transparency to the processes and decisions made.

When there is a conflict of interest or personal interest on the part of the Editorial Board or reviewers, the Editorial Coordination will be informed of the corresponding declination.

In case of plagiarism, unethical practices or duplicity of work, authors will be informed; their work will be withdrawn from the review process, rejected or even eliminated from the publication. In addition, if it is considered a matter of importance, the author's institution will be informed so that the corresponding measures can be taken.

Authors will have the arbitrations and observations derived from the review process always regardless of the outcome of the process.

The confidentiality of authors and reviewers will be protected in order to maintain the maximum objectivity of the review process.

Responsability

The Editorial Board, editors, reviewers and authors will always perform their duties with professionalism.

Personal data will not be shared with third parties and will only be used for professional communication related to the journal.

No information of any kind will be given to third parties or collaborators of the journal about the reviewers, authors, works that entered the journal or editors when it is suspected that the information will be misused.

The comments of reviewers and authors are outside the non-position of both the Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua (IMTA) and the journal Tecnología y ciencias del agua.

General responsibilities of the editor-in-chief

Agree with IMTA's director on matters related to the journal that require institutional support or intervention.
Contribute to the promotion of the journal at the national and international levels.
To formally invite renowned personalities from the world of science and technology in the journal's field of action to publish.
Approve the publication of special issues.
Sign collaboration agreements and projects between the journal and national and international bodies.
Define and update the areas of interest of the journal and the type of material to be published.
Specify the journal's target audience.
Evaluate the contents of the journal and propose modifications to the editorial line.
Appoint and remove the members of the journal's Editorial Coordination.
Write editorials when required.
Reject, from the outset, articles that do not comply with the journal's Editorial Policy.
Determine which editor by subject will coordinate each paper submitted for possible publication.
Adopt the role of editor by subject in special cases.
If required, act as referee.
Convene and direct the meetings of the Editorial Board.
Act as a permanent link between the members of the Editorial Board.

Responsibilities of the subject editor/section editor

Identify, select and designate referees to review the works it coordinates. In this regard, it assumes the commitment to use criteria that take into account the professional experience and knowledge of the reviewers, as well as to adhere to a responsible, professional and ethical attitude, to ensure that this activity is carried out without discrimination based on sex, religion, ethnic or national origin, sexual preferences, conflicts of interest or any other reason.
Follow up in due time and form, as well as in an objective manner, the opinion of the contributions in their thematic field.
Participate in the review process, either on their own initiative or when requested to do so by the editor-in-chief or another member of the Editorial Board, always in an objective and courteous manner.
Decide, based on the opinions requested and on his/her own experience, the final opinion of each work he/she coordinates; this, based on principles of quality and objectivity.
Provide advice to the Editorial Coordination of the journal, if required.
Suggest to the editor-in-chief experts in their thematic area, for the conformation of the Editorial Committee, taking into account the trajectory and ethical attitude of the candidates.
Not to disclose information about manuscripts received for publication to persons outside the journal.

Reviewer's responsibilities

Make objective, concrete and written observations in courteous terms.
Give a clear and concise opinion.
Avoid value judgments, conflicts of interest or personal interests, and focus on the quality and contributions of the work.
Make precise and substantive observations, so as to enrich the document when modifications are requested.
Respond in a timely manner to meet deadlines.
Maintain the confidentiality of assigned manuscripts, and therefore should not discuss their content with others without the express consent of the editors.
Inform the editors of any similarity of the manuscript with other published works.

Author's responsibilities

Submit their work exclusively to the arbitration and review of the journal for publication. In case the article or note is submitted to another media for its eventual publication, the authors must inform the Editorial Coordination, which will suspend the arbitration process and inform the Editorial Board of the decision taken by the authors; this same suspension will take effect if the journal Tecnología y ciencias del agua identifies and corroborates a similar situation.
Guarantee the originality and ownership of their work, for which, before starting the review process, they will issue a "Letter of originality", specifying that the work they submit is theirs and is original.
Accept to be part of the group of referees of the journal Tecnología y ciencias del agua, with the responsibility that this implies.
Cite correctly and completely all references used in the manuscript.
Respect the authorship originally registered in the work submitted to the journal. Authors may only eliminate or add an author of the article or note in process by means of an official letter addressed to the journal Tecnología y ciencias del agua. This letter must be signed (on paper) by the main author, the co-authors and the author to be removed/added and who gives his/her express consent.
Limit the percentage of self-citations in the articles submitted to the journal to no more than 20%.

Editorial Coordination responsibilities

Maintain principles of impartiality, objectivity and honesty.
Maintain confidentiality. All documentation associated with the arbitration process is classified as confidential; this includes personal data of the arbitrators, in order to comply with applicable laws and maintain the impartiality of the process.
Conduct all journal activities without discrimination based on sex, religion, ethnic or national origin, sexual preference or any other reason.