Editorial Board Policy
The Editorial Board of Revista Productos Naturales (RPN) is an academic advisory body composed of active researchers with expertise and established experience in natural products and related fields. Its purpose is to contribute to the scientific development, editorial quality, integrity, and national and international visibility of the journal.
Membership on the Editorial Board entails an active academic commitment and is not merely an honorary appointment.
Composition
The Editorial Board will preferably consist of 8 to 12 members, with the aim of maintaining a balanced representation of expertise, research fields, institutions, geographical regions, and career stages.
RPN will encourage the participation of researchers from different generations and promote institutional and international diversity within the Board.
Selection Criteria
Editorial Board members will be selected based on:
- current scientific activity;
- expertise and competence in fields within the scope of RPN;
- academic standing and professional integrity;
- willingness to contribute actively to the journal;
- ability to recommend reviewers, authors, topics, or relevant scientific contributions;
- potential to enhance the scientific visibility and reach of RPN;
- disciplinary, institutional, geographical, and generational diversity;
- absence of conflicts of interest incompatible with the role.
Responsibilities
Editorial Board members may:
- advise on the scientific direction and development of RPN;
- identify emerging and strategic areas in the field of natural products;
- recommend qualified peer reviewers;
- participate in manuscript review when invited;
- propose authors, topics, review articles, special issues, or other editorial initiatives;
- contribute to the dissemination and visibility of the journal;
- provide recommendations on editorial policies and practices;
- contribute to maintaining high standards of scientific quality, ethics, and integrity.
Editorial Independence
Membership on the Editorial Board does not automatically confer authority to accept or reject manuscripts.
Editorial decisions regarding manuscripts submitted to RPN are the responsibility of the editors assigned to the corresponding editorial process.
When an Editorial Board member participates in the management or evaluation of a manuscript, the member must comply with RPN policies on editorial practice, peer review, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest.
Appointment and Acceptance
Members will be formally invited by RPN. Appointment becomes effective once the invited researcher has accepted the appointment and the responsibilities associated with the role.
Active members may be publicly listed in the journal's Editorial Masthead.
Term and Renewal
Appointments will be made for a term of three years and may be renewed.
Renewal is not automatic. The following factors will be considered:
- continued scientific activity;
- participation and availability;
- effective contribution to RPN;
- the scientific and editorial needs of the journal;
- disciplinary, institutional, geographical, and generational balance within the Board.
Conflicts of Interest
Members must disclose any professional, institutional, financial, editorial, or personal relationship that may affect, or may reasonably be perceived to affect, their independence in fulfilling their responsibilities.
Members must also disclose concurrent editorial responsibilities when these may give rise to conflicts of interest, commitment, or loyalty.
End of Appointment
Editorial Board membership may end:
- upon completion of the appointment term;
- at the member's request;
- due to prolonged inactivity or repeated failure to respond;
- when the member's scientific activity is no longer related to the scope of the journal;
- when a conflict of interest becomes incompatible with the role;
- due to failure to comply with the ethical or editorial principles of RPN;
- as a result of the periodic renewal process of the Editorial Board.
The end of an appointment does not remove or diminish recognition of the contributions made during the member's term.
Historical Record
RPN will maintain a historical record of researchers who have served on its Editorial Board in recognition of their contribution to the development of the journal.
The Editorial Masthead will identify current members, while completed appointments may be retained in the journal's editorial history.
Editorial Board Review
The composition of the Editorial Board will be reviewed periodically to ensure that it remains scientifically active, diverse, and relevant to the scope and needs of RPN.
The appointment and renewal of members will be based on academic and editorial criteria and not solely on seniority, institutional representation, or honorary recognition.
