STM publisher Springer has joined forces with Peerage of Science to help authors more easily submit their manuscripts for consideration in Springer journals. Both sides are looking at how they can make the process easier and less time consuming, reduce the time to publication, and eliminate the need for re-submissions. The end goal is to make the work of peer review a more enriching experience for both authors and for reviewers.
The way it works is easy. A researcher submits his or her paper to Peerage of Science for consideration from its peer reviewers. After an author revises the manuscript and responds to comments based on the feedback he or she receives, reviewers judge whether the revisions and reply satisfactorily address the issues they raised. Once this process is complete, an author can then send the entire review history directly to Springer via Peerage of Science’s site.
While authors can choose from some select individual journals, they also have the added option of submitting to Springer’s transfer desk, which then works with them to select the most appropriate journal for any given article.
Other publishers working with Peerage of Science offer options with individual journals, but Springer is the first to partner with them across its entire portfolio, including the options to publish open access and in Springer’s mega-journal, SpringerPlus.
Pre-publication reviews will be included with submissions to avoid wasted reviewer efforts and reduce the burden on the reviewer community, and Editors-in-Chief will determine whether additional scrutiny is needed on a per-paper basis. But regardless of whether submissions are subject to further review or not, readers and authors can rest assured that published articles have met the same stringent standards that they have come to expect from Springer journals.
