Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
The Bulletin of Biomathematics (BBM) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity in scholarly publishing. Ethical conduct is expected from all parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. BBM adheres to the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This includes clear responsibilities for editors in their relationships with authors, reviewers, and readers, as well as procedures for handling complaints, conflicts of interest, and ethical concerns.
All participants in the editorial and peer review process are expected to act with transparency, fairness, and accountability, and to fully conform to these ethical standards to ensure the quality and credibility of published work.

International Standards for Editors
Editors of the Bulletin of Biomathematics (BBM) are responsible for making independent and impartial decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of submitted manuscripts. These decisions are based solely on the academic merit and intellectual content of the work, without consideration of the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political views. Editors are expected to follow the journal’s editorial policies and comply with applicable legal and ethical standards, including those related to libel, copyright, and plagiarism. In evaluating submissions, editors may consult with other editors or qualified reviewers as appropriate. As guardians of the research record, editors play a critical role in upholding the integrity of scholarly communication. They should not only encourage authors to adhere to the highest standards of research and publication ethics, but also lead by example in their editorial conduct. Through their policies and practices, editors are in a position to promote responsible research behavior and foster a culture of academic integrity.

To maximize their impact within the research community, editors of the Bulletin of Biomathematics are expected to adhere to universal standards and best editorial practices. Key editorial responsibilities include:

• Accountability: Editors are accountable for all content published in the journal and should take full responsibility for their editorial decisions.
• Fairness and Objectivity: Decisions must be made fairly and impartially, without influence from commercial interests or personal biases, and based solely on scholarly merit.
• Rigorous Peer Review: Editors must ensure a thorough, transparent, and unbiased peer-review process, providing guidance to both authors and reviewers on expectations.
• Integrity and Transparency: Editorial policies should promote honest reporting, maximum transparency, and ethical conduct throughout the publishing process.
• Corrections and Retractions: Editors should actively safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record by issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary.
• Misconduct Oversight: Editors are responsible for investigating and addressing suspected or confirmed instances of research, reviewer, or editorial misconduct.
• Ethical Oversight: Submissions involving research on humans or animals must be assessed to ensure compliance with ethical standards and appropriate approvals.
• Conflict of Interest Management: Editors must have clear policies for managing and disclosing editorial conflicts of interest.

Reference:
Kleinert S. & Wager E. (2011). Responsible research publication: international standards for editors. A position statement developed at the 2nd World Conference on Research Integrity, Singapore, July 22-24, 2010. Chapter 51 In: Mayer T. & Steneck N. (eds). Promoting Research Integrity in a Global Environment. Imperial College Press / World Scientific Publishing, Singapore (pp 317-28). (ISBN 978-981-4340-97-7).

International Standards for Authors
Publication represents the final stage of the research process and carries with it a significant responsibility for all researchers. Scholarly publications are intended to serve as a detailed, transparent, and permanent record of research findings. As such, they form the foundation for future research and practical applications, influencing not only the scientific community but also, indirectly, society at large. Researchers have a duty to ensure that their publications are honest, clear, accurate, complete, and balanced. They must avoid misleading, selective, or ambiguous reporting that could distort scientific understanding or misrepresent results. Upholding these principles is essential for maintaining the credibility and integrity of the scientific record. Journal editors also share in this responsibility and are expected to enforce editorial and ethical standards. Their role in safeguarding the integrity of the research literature is outlined in companion editorial guidelines.
Researchers are expected to present their results clearly, honestly, and accurately, without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation of data.
Methods should be described with sufficient clarity and detail to allow independent verification and reproducibility of the findings.
Submitted work must be original, free from plagiarism, and not under consideration or published elsewhere.
All authors share collective responsibility for the content of submitted and published work.
Authorship should fairly and accurately reflect each individual’s contribution to the research and its dissemination.
Authors must fully disclose funding sources and any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation.
If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obligated to promptly inform the Editor-in-Chief and cooperate to publish a correction, erratum, or retraction as appropriate.

Reference:
Wager, E. & Kleinert, S. (2011) Responsible research publication: international standards for authors. A position statement developed at the 2nd World Conference on Research Integrity, Singapore, July 22-24, 2010. Chapter 50 in: Mayer T & Steneck N (eds) Promoting Research Integrity in a Global Environment. Imperial College Press / World Scientific Publishing, Singapore (pp 309-16). (ISBN 978-981-4340-97-7).

Basic Principles for Peer Reviewers
Peer review plays a fundamental role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the scholarly record. It is built on mutual trust, ethical conduct, and responsible behavior by all participants. Peer reviewers are central to this process, providing critical evaluations that assist editors in making informed decisions and, through constructive feedback, help authors improve the quality of their manuscripts.

Reviewers should adhere to the following core principles:
Conduct reviews in a timely, objective, and constructive manner,
Treat manuscripts as confidential documents and not share or use the content for personal advantage,
Declare any conflicts of interest that could affect the impartiality of their review,
Evaluate the manuscript solely on scientific merit, without bias based on nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, or other personal characteristics of the authors,
Provide clear, reasoned, and respectful feedback, including suggestions for improvement where appropriate,
Refrain from engaging in plagiarism or using unpublished material in any way.

Peer reviewers are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, contributing meaningfully to the advancement of science and the editorial integrity of the Bulletin of Biomathematics.

Reference:
Homes, I. (2013). COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers, March 2013, v1.