Privacy Policy for International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology

International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology operates the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform to manage submissions, peer reviews, and publishing processes. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our website.

1. Information We Collect

We collect and process the following types of personal data when you interact with our OJS platform:

A. Information Provided by Users

- Authors: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, ORCID ID (if provided), and submission details.

- Reviewers: Name, email address, expertise areas, review comments, and recommendations.

- Editors and Administrators: Contact details and editorial activities.

- Readers (Registered Users): Name, email address, affiliation, and country of residence (if provided).

Although readers can access the articles published in the International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology without registering, we encourage registration.

Having a record of the number of people reading the articles, along with details like their affiliations and country of residence, helps us:

- Identify the types of articles our readership might be interested in.

- Support our bids for funding and sponsorship, which are essential to keeping the International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology freely available to all readers.

B. Automatically Collected Information

- Session Cookies: Our OJS platform sets a single session cookie (OJSSID), which is used to maintain user sessions. This cookie is essential for site functionality and does not track users beyond their visit. As an essential cookie, it is compliant with GDPR and does not require explicit consent.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your personal data is used for the following purposes:

- Managing manuscript submissions, peer review, and editorial processes.

- Communicating with authors, reviewers, and editors.

- Publishing accepted manuscripts and maintaining publication records.

- Improving website functionality and user experience.

- Ensuring compliance with legal and ethical publishing standards.

- Supporting funding and sponsorship applications by demonstrating readership engagement.

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.

3. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell or share personal data with third parties except in the following cases:

- Publishing Metadata: Author names, affiliations, and publication details may be publicly available in published articles.

- Legal Requirements: We may disclose personal data when required by law or to protect legal rights.

- Third-Party Services: Our platform may integrate with external services (e.g., Crossref for DOI registration), which may process data under their respective privacy policies.

4. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect personal data from unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure.

5. User Rights & Data Control

Depending on your location and applicable laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), you may have the right to:

- Access, correct, or update your personal data.

- Request deletion of your account and personal data.

- Withdraw consent for non-essential data processing.

- Request a copy of your personal data in a portable format.

To exercise your rights, contact c.herman@open.ac.uk.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, and maintain academic publishing records.

7. External Links

Our OJS platform may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page, and significant updates may be communicated via email or website notifications.

9. Contact Information

For any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact:

International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology

Email: Clem Herman (c.herman@open.ac.uk)

Website: https://genderandset.open.ac.uk/