In celebration of Peer Review Week, IOP Publishing (IOPP) is shining a spotlight on the critical role of constructive and respectful feedback in peer review. Through its latest campaign, IOPP emphasizes the emotional impact that unhelpful critiques can have on early-career researchers, while highlighting how positive feedback contributes to academic growth and success.
The campaign, which features a short video, presents examples of discouraging reviews experienced by emerging researchers and contrasts them with their impressive academic achievements. By raising awareness of these challenges, IOPP aims to foster a culture of professionalism and support in the peer review process.
To reinforce its commitment to constructive peer review, IOP Publishing continues to offer its free Peer Review Excellence training and certification program. Targeted at early-career researchers in the physical sciences, this program helps equip reviewers with the necessary skills to provide insightful and supportive feedback. Those who complete the program earn IOP’s Trusted Reviewer status, further recognizing their contributions to advancing academic excellence.
IOP Publishing has also introduced several innovations to enhance the peer review process, making it more transparent and inclusive. These include:
• Co-review: Allowing multiple experts to collaborate on a single review.
• Double-anonymous peer review: Ensuring both reviewers and authors remain anonymous to prevent bias.
• Transparent peer review: Providing greater openness by sharing the review history of accepted articles.
• Reviewer feedback options: Enabling reviewers to receive comments on the quality of their reports.
These initiatives aim to create a more supportive and respectful peer review environment, benefiting all researchers and contributing to a healthier academic ecosystem.
Through its ongoing efforts, IOP Publishing is leading the way in promoting professionalism and constructive dialogue in the peer review process, reinforcing the importance of feedback that helps authors improve their work without undermining their confidence.
Click here to read the original press release.
