Peer Review Process

Iraqi Journal of Environmental Sciences (IJES)

1. Overview

IJES follows a double-blind peer review process, where:

• Authors do not know the reviewers’ identities
• Reviewers do not know the authors’ identities

This ensures objectivity, fairness, and scientific integrity.

2. Review Workflow

Step 1: Submission

• Author submits manuscript via OJS

Step 2: Initial Screening (Editorial Check)

• Scope relevance
• Formatting compliance
• Plagiarism check

Outcome:

• Proceed to review
• Return for correction
• Reject

Step 3: Reviewer Assignment

• Editor assigns at least two independent reviewers
• Experts in the relevant field

Step 4: Peer Review

Reviewers evaluate:

• Scientific quality
• Originality
• Methodology
• Clarity of presentation
• Relevance to the field

Step 5: Reviewer Decision

Reviewers recommend:

• Accept
• Minor revision
• Major revision
• Reject

Step 6: Editorial Decision

Editor makes final decision based on reviewers’ reports.

Step 7: Revision Stage

• Authors revise manuscript
• Submit response to reviewers

Step 8: Final Decision

• Accept or Reject

Step 9: Copyediting & Publication

• Formatting, proofreading
• Online publication

3. Peer Review Timeline

• Initial screening: 3–7 days
• Review process: 2–6 weeks
• Revision: 1–3 weeks

4. Ethical Standards

• Confidentiality maintained
• No conflict of interest
• No plagiarism or misconduct

5. Key Features

• Double-blind review
• Minimum 2 reviewers
• Transparent and fair decisions
• Fast and efficient workflow