Generative AI Policy
Bioresources and Environment (BioEnv) recognizes the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in scholarly publishing. BioEnv supports the responsible and transparent use of AI while maintaining academic integrity, research integrity, confidentiality and accountability.
Use of AI By Authors
Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies to support manuscript preparation, including language improvement, grammar, readability, translation and organization.
Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity and final content of their manuscripts. AI must not replace the authors' intellectual contribution, scholarly judgement or responsibility for the work.
AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify research data, results, references, citations, images or other scholarly content.
AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors.
Disclosure of Ai Use
Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such tools make a substantive contribution to the preparation or content of a manuscript.
The disclosure should identify the AI tool used and describe its purpose. Authors must review and verify all AI-assisted content and remain responsible for the final manuscript.
Authors may use the following statement:
Routine use of AI for spelling, grammar, punctuation and basic language improvement does not normally require disclosure.
When AI is used as part of the research methodology, including data analysis, coding, modelling, classification, or other research procedures, its use must be appropriately described in the relevant Methods/Methodology section.
Accuracy and Research Integrity
AI-generated content may contain inaccurate information, fabricated references, bias, or other errors. Authors must therefore critically evaluate and verify all AI-generated or AI-assisted content before submission.
Authors must ensure that the use of AI does not result in:
- plagiarism or unattributed use of copyrighted material;
- fabrication or falsification of research;
- inaccurate or misleading scholarly claims;
- fabricated references or citations; or
- violation of confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, or other ethical requirements.
The use of AI does not transfer responsibility from the authors to the AI tool or its provider.
Use of Ai by Reviewers
BioEnv requires reviewers to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the peer-review process.
Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports or other confidential peer-review materials to publicly accessible generative AI tools.
AI must not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly assessment or judgement. Reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, fairness and confidentiality of their review reports.
Reviewers must disclose any potential ethical concern or inappropriate use of AI identified during the review process to the Editor-in-Chief.
Use of Ai by Editors and Editorial Team Members
Editors and editorial team members must maintain the confidentiality, independence and integrity of the editorial process.
AI must not replace human editorial judgement in decisions concerning manuscript evaluation, peer review, acceptance, revision, rejection, correction or retraction.
Editors and editorial team members must not upload submitted manuscripts or confidential editorial materials to publicly accessible generative AI tools.
Editors remain accountable for editorial decisions and must ensure that the use of AI does not compromise confidential information or the rights of authors and reviewers.
AI-Generated Images, Data and other Materials
Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality and appropriate attribution of all images, figures, tables, data and other materials submitted to BioEnv.
AI must not be used to fabricate, manipulate, or misrepresent research data, results, evidence or images.
Any substantive use of AI to generate or modify research content must be disclosed.
Ethical Compliance
BioEnv considers the responsible use of AI an integral part of research integrity and publication ethics.
Suspected inappropriate, misleading or undisclosed use of AI may be investigated in accordance with BioEnv's Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement, Peer Review Policy, Plagiarism Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, Corrections, Retractions and Editorial Complaints Policy, and other applicable editorial policies.
Where necessary, BioEnv may request clarification or supporting information from authors, reviewers or editorial team members and may take appropriate editorial action.
Policy Review
BioEnv will periodically review this policy to reflect developments in AI technologies, scholarly publishing standards, research integrity and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Scopus/Elsevier and other recognized scholarly publishing organizations.
