Guide for authors
The practical requirements for preparing and submitting a manuscript to SGST, in one place.
Read this together with the journal’s editorial and ethics policies: manuscript types below, submission and screening below, and peer review, research integrity, AI use, data, copyright and charges on the policies page.
Manuscript types
Submissions that do not correspond to a recognised type are liable to be returned or desk-rejected
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Original research article | Complete original experimental, computational, theoretical, modelling or applied studies. |
| Review article | Critical and structured reviews that synthesise a significant research area and identify knowledge gaps and future directions. |
| Systematic review or meta-analysis | Evidence-based reviews using transparent and reproducible methodologies. |
| Short communication | Concise reports of important and sufficiently mature findings that merit rapid communication. |
| Technical note or methods paper | Novel methods, analytical approaches, experimental protocols, computational tools, or methodological advances. |
| Perspective | Expert assessments of emerging topics, challenges, technologies or research directions. |
| Commentary | Focused scholarly discussion of important developments or policy and science issues. |
| Editorial | Commissioned or written by the editorial team, concerning journal developments or major topics. |
| Data or software article | Articles describing high-value datasets, software, workflows or computational resources where appropriate. |
| Special issue contribution | Manuscripts submitted to approved thematic collections, subject to the same quality and peer-review standards as regular issues. |
Before preparing a manuscript, confirm that the work matches the journal’s aims and scope and corresponds to one of the types above. Submissions that fall outside the scope are liable to be desk-rejected without full peer review.
Before you submit
- Confirm that the manuscript is original, is not under consideration elsewhere, and that any preprint or prior version is disclosed as described in the publication ethics policy.
- Have the manuscript checked for clarity of English and technical accuracy. Independent language-editing or technical-editing services may be used, but they do not guarantee acceptance and do not replace scientific review.
- Prepare all required statements in advance: author contributions, funding, data availability, conflicts of interest, ethics approval where applicable, and AI-use disclosure where applicable.
- Gather the contact details, affiliations and ORCID identifiers of all co-authors, since authorship cannot normally be changed after submission without a documented request.
Ethics, authorship and disclosures
At submission, authors must confirm compliance with research-integrity and ethical standards; ensure that authorship reflects genuine contribution and that all co-authors have approved the submission; disclose all conflicts of interest, whether financial or non-financial; disclose all funding sources and the role of funders; and disclose any substantive use of AI-assisted technologies in the research or writing process.
Use of inclusive language
Write in a way that is inclusive of all readers and that does not perpetuate stereotypes or exclusionary assumptions relating to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age or socio-economic status. Use gender-neutral language where the gender of a person or group is not relevant to the point being made, and avoid unnecessary generalisations. Where a study specifically concerns one of these characteristics, use precise and respectful terminology that, where possible, reflects how the group concerned self-identifies.
Author declaration
By submitting a manuscript to SGST, the authors confirm that:
- Originality
- The work is original to the extent stated in the submission
- Approval
- All listed authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission
- Exclusivity
- The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration elsewhere
- Disclosure
- All relevant funding, conflicts, ethical approvals, data availability and AI-use information have been disclosed
Manuscript file and structure
Submit a single editable file (Word or LaTeX) accompanied by separate high-resolution figure files.
Article body and subdivision of sections
The main text should normally be divided into clearly numbered sections such as Introduction, Materials and Methods (or Methodology), Results, Discussion and Conclusions. Theoretical or computational studies may substitute or add a Theory or Calculation section as appropriate. Subsections should be numbered — 2.1, 2.2 — and given a brief, informative heading.
Methods should contain sufficient detail to permit evaluation and, where feasible, reproduction: materials, instruments, software, datasets, models, assumptions, statistical procedures and relevant parameters. Results and Discussion may be combined where this improves clarity, but should not simply repeat information already given in figures or tables.
Essential title page information
Provide a concise and informative title without unnecessary abbreviations; the full names and institutional affiliations of all authors, with author names linked to affiliations where authors share different institutions; the name, postal and email address of the corresponding author, who remains the point of contact throughout review and after publication; and, where available, the ORCID identifier for each author. Present or permanent addresses that differ from where the work was carried out may be given as a footnote.
Abstract
Normally not more than 250 words unless the article type specifies another limit, and suitable for standalone use by abstracting and indexing services. State concisely the purpose of the research, the principal methods used, the key results and the main conclusions. Avoid citations and undefined abbreviations.
Graphical abstract
Authors are encouraged, and may be required depending on article type, to provide a graphical abstract: a single, concise, visually clear image summarising the article for readers scanning the table of contents. Submit it as a separate file, sized for online viewing — a portrait aspect ratio of approximately 5:13 and a minimum of 300 dpi is recommended — and do not duplicate a figure already used to make a different point in the main text.
Highlights
Three to five bullet points, each of no more than approximately 85 characters including spaces, conveying the core findings and novel contribution in a form suitable for online display and indexing. Submit as a separate editable file. Highlights should be distinguishable from, and not simply repeat, the abstract.
Keywords and abbreviations
Provide approximately four to eight specific keywords, avoiding terms that are too general or that merely repeat words already in the title. Define non-standard abbreviations at first use in the abstract and again at first use in the main text; where a manuscript uses many abbreviations, a consolidated list may be provided as a footnote or table.
Components of a complete submission
- Title page
- Title, author names and affiliations, corresponding author, ORCID
- Abstract
- Normally up to 250 words
- Graphical abstract
- Where applicable
- Highlights
- 3–5 bullet points, separate editable file
- Keywords
- Approximately 4–8
- Main text
- Introduction through Conclusions
- Author contributions
- CRediT-style roles where feasible
- Funding
- All sources and the role of each funder
- Data availability statement
- Required
- Competing interest declaration
- Required
- Ethics statement
- Where applicable
- AI-assisted technology statement
- Where applicable
- Acknowledgements
- With the permission of those named
- References, tables, captions
- Required
- Figures and supplementary
- As applicable, as separate files
Units, formulae, artwork and tables
Units, formulae and footnotes
Use SI units throughout, or give SI equivalents where other units are conventional in the sub-field. Typeset mathematical formulae clearly with variables identified, and number them consecutively in parentheses at the right-hand margin when referred to in the text. Use footnotes sparingly, numbered consecutively throughout the article rather than restarting on each page.
Artwork and figures
Number figures consecutively in the order they are cited, with an informative caption below each figure. Supply line art at a minimum of 1000 dpi and combination or halftone images at a minimum of 300 dpi; vector formats such as EPS or PDF are preferred for diagrams and charts because they scale without loss of quality.
Use consistent, legible fonts and symbol sizes across all panels of a multi-part figure; label all axes, legends, units and abbreviations clearly; and avoid decorative elements. Colour figures are encouraged for online publication; confirm whether colour reproduction in any print or PDF-of-record involves a separate charge under the journal’s current production policy.
Tables
Number tables consecutively, cite them in the text, and place them either close to their first citation or grouped at the end, according to the submission system’s requirements. Give each table a brief, self-explanatory title, avoid vertical rules, and place explanatory footnotes below the table body using consistent symbols. Tables should not duplicate data already presented in a figure.
Research data and supplementary material
Follow the research data policy, including providing a Data Availability Statement. Supplementary material that supports but is not essential to the main text — extended datasets, additional figures or tables, videos, code — may be submitted alongside the manuscript. It is published as supplied and is not typeset, so label it clearly and keep it directly relevant.
References
References must be accurate, relevant and consistently formatted, and authors are responsible for verifying every entry before submission. Retracted articles should not be cited as valid evidence unless the purpose is explicitly to discuss the retraction, and any such citation should note it.
SGST uses an author–date (APA-style) referencing system:
- In-text citations take the form (Author, Year) for one author, (Author & Author, Year) for two authors, and (Author et al., Year) for three or more.
- The reference list is arranged alphabetically by first author surname, and chronologically for multiple works by the same authors.
- Each entry includes, as applicable: author or authors, year of publication, article or chapter title, journal or book title, volume and issue or page numbers, publisher, and the DOI.
- Recognised reference-management software with styles compatible with APA 7th edition may be used to format the list consistently.
Reference examples
- Journal article
- Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxxxx
- Book
- Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the work. Publisher.
- Retracted work
- Cite only to discuss the retraction, and note the retraction in the entry.
Submit your manuscript
Every submission undergoes an initial technical and scope check before peer review
All manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s designated electronic submission system or, during the interim launch phase, through the official editorial office. The submission platform is being commissioned; the address will be published here and on the contact page as soon as it is live.
A manuscript may be returned to authors for technical correction before peer review. A desk rejection may be issued when the manuscript is clearly out of scope, lacks sufficient novelty, fails fundamental ethical or scientific requirements, or is otherwise unsuitable for the journal.
SGST has made no decision to charge authors, and no charge exists today. If you receive any message asking for payment to SGST, treat it as fraudulent and report it to the editorial office. Charges, if ever adopted, will be published in full on this website before submission — see charges and waivers.
Technical screening covers
- Fit with the journal’s aims and scope.
- Compliance with the required format and file specifications.
- All authors and affiliations identified, with a designated corresponding author.
- Title, abstract, keywords, figures, tables, references, supplementary files and declarations.
- Authorship and contributorship information.
- Funding and conflict-of-interest disclosures.
- Ethical approval or exemption statements where applicable.
- AI-use disclosure where applicable.
- An initial similarity and plagiarism assessment using appropriate software.
- Obvious duplicate submission, redundant publication, fabricated information, or serious methodological deficiencies.
Editorial decision categories
| Decision | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Reject without external review | The manuscript is out of scope, unsuitable, seriously deficient, or fails basic requirements. |
| Reject after review | The manuscript does not meet the journal’s scientific or editorial standards. |
| Major revision | Substantial scientific, methodological, structural or interpretive changes are required. |
| Minor revision | Limited corrections or clarifications are required. |
| Accept | The manuscript is suitable for publication subject to routine production checks. |
Decision letters are professional, clear and supported by editorial reasoning. Reviewer comments are transmitted to authors where appropriate, after removing confidential or inappropriate material. If you believe a decision rested on a substantive factual, procedural or reviewer-related issue, see appeals and complaints.
After acceptance and author enquiries
Once a manuscript is accepted it proceeds to production: copyediting, typesetting and proof generation. Corresponding authors receive proofs and should check them carefully and return corrections within the requested timeframe, since only limited corrections are possible at this stage.
Authors retain the rights described in the journal’s copyright and licensing policy and are encouraged to share their published work in line with that policy.
Questions about a specific submission should be directed to the editorial office using the corresponding author’s manuscript reference number.
Production sequence
- 1. Copyediting
- Language and house style; substantive queries return to the authors
- 2. Typesetting
- Layout of text, tables and figures
- 3. Proof
- Corresponding author checks and returns corrections promptly
- 4. Metadata verification
- Authors, affiliations, ORCID, funding and identifiers checked
- 5. Publication
- Article released with its licence stated in metadata and full text
- 6. Post-publication
- Monitoring, and correction where necessary
Submission checklist
Work through this before submitting
- Manuscript is within the journal’s aims and scope.
- Title is concise and accurate.
- Abstract meets the applicable word limit.
- Keywords are provided.
- All authors have approved the manuscript.
- Corresponding author is clearly identified.
- ORCID identifiers are provided where available.
- Author Contributions statement is included.
- Funding statement is included.
- Conflict-of-interest statement is included.
- Data Availability Statement is included.
- Ethics statement is included where applicable.
- AI-use statement is included where applicable.
- Figures and tables are numbered and cited.
- References have been checked for accuracy.
- Permissions have been obtained for third-party copyrighted material where necessary.
- Manuscript has not been submitted simultaneously to another journal.
- Related publications and preprints have been disclosed.
- Similarity and plagiarism requirements have been considered.
- Supplementary files are complete and correctly identified.