Preamble
SGEM WORLD SCIENCE (SWS) is an international scholarly society based in Austria, dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the responsible global dissemination of research across Earth and Planetary Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts & Humanities.

Founded upon a long-standing tradition of scientific engagement and sustained international academic cooperation, SWS operates as a platform where knowledge is not only produced, but meaningfully connected across disciplines, cultures, and societal contexts. The Society brings together researchers, institutions, and intellectual traditions into a shared space of dialogue, discovery, and collaboration.

SWS recognizes that contemporary scientific challenges require integrative approaches that transcend disciplinary boundaries. Through its activities and institutional framework, the Society promotes the convergence of science, society, and culture, supporting the development of knowledge that is both academically rigorous and socially relevant.

Article I: Mission
SWS is committed to advancing scientific and scholarly excellence through a comprehensive and integrative approach to knowledge creation, dissemination, and application.

The mission of the Society is to:
Advance high-quality, peer-reviewed scientific research across diverse disciplines

Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and intellectual exchange between scientific domains
Support the global accessibility, visibility, and dissemination of scholarly knowledge
Contribute to sustainable development, societal progress, and informed decision-making
Foster the integration of science, society, and culture as interconnected dimensions of knowledge
Encourage the responsible use of scientific knowledge in addressing global challenges

Through its activities, SWS seeks to cultivate a scholarly environment in which research is not only produced, but critically engaged, communicated, and applied in ways that contribute to the broader development of society.

Article II: Core Principles

The Society operates in accordance with a set of fundamental principles that guide its academic, institutional, and ethical practices.

Scientific Excellence. SWS upholds rigorous academic and editorial standards, ensuring that all scholarly outputs meet internationally recognized criteria for quality, originality, and relevance.

Editorial Independence. All academic and editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of scholarly merit, free from external influence, commercial considerations, or institutional bias.

Integrity and Ethics. The Society adheres to internationally recognized ethical frameworks in research and publishing, ensuring responsible authorship, transparency, and accountability in all scholarly activities.

Transparency and Accountability. SWS maintains clear and open processes in governance, peer review, and publication practices, fostering trust within the global academic community.

Inclusivity and Diversity. The Society actively supports participation from diverse disciplines, cultures, and regions, recognizing the value of multiple perspectives in advancing knowledge.

Interdisciplinarity. SWS promotes the integration of knowledge across scientific fields, encouraging collaboration between traditionally distinct domains to address complex global issues.

Article III: Governance
The academic direction, integrity, and long-term vision of SWS are ensured through an independent and structured scientific governance framework.

This framework includes:

The Scientific Council, serving as the highest academic body of the Society, responsible for strategic scientific direction, the safeguarding of academic standards, and the long-term development of the Society’s scholarly mission
The International Scientific Committees, overseeing disciplinary scope, thematic development, and alignment with current research trends across Earth and Planetary Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts & Humanities
The Editors and Reviewers, ensuring the quality, credibility, and integrity of all scholarly outputs through rigorous, independent peer-review processes

These bodies operate in accordance with the principles of editorial independence, academic responsibility, and institutional integrity. The scientific governance of SWS is distinct from its administrative and operational structures, ensuring that scholarly decision-making remains independent and guided solely by academic criteria.

Article III.A: Advisory Board and Institutional Representation
The Advisory Board of SWS serves as a high-level consultative body contributing to the Society’s international visibility, institutional development, and broader scholarly positioning.

As a matter of institutional principle, the Advisory Board includes the current Presidents or officially designated representatives of partner Academies of Sciences, Academies of Arts, and other distinguished scientific institutions that have formally accepted partnership with the Society.

These partnerships are institutional in nature and are not limited to individual office holders. Accordingly, representation within the Advisory Board reflects the current academic leadership of the respective institution and is updated in accordance with changes in institutional governance.

The Advisory Board does not exercise executive or operational authority, but provides institutional support, representative value, and strategic scholarly guidance that strengthen the Society’s international academic cooperation and visibility.

Article IV: Scholarly Activities
SWS fulfills its mission through a comprehensive range of scholarly activities that support the creation, dissemination, and exchange of knowledge.

These activities include:

The organization of international scientific conferences and interdisciplinary academic forums
The publication of peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and scholarly volumes
The development of platforms that integrate science, society, and the arts
Educational initiatives, workshops, and capacity-building programmes for researchers at all stages
International research collaboration and institutional partnerships

Through these activities, SWS contributes to the advancement of global scientific dialogue and the continuous development of scholarly communities.

Article V: Scholarly Publishing and Dissemination
Scholarly publishing represents a central function of SWS and a core component of its institutional identity.

The Society is committed to:

Ensuring the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed scientific outputs
Supporting editorial production processes that meet international publishing standards
Enhancing the visibility, discoverability, and accessibility of research through global dissemination channels
Preserving scholarly outputs for long-term access and academic continuity

SWS operates within an international publishing ecosystem that includes persistent identifiers, standardized metadata, and archival practices, ensuring that research outputs are reliably integrated into the global network of scientific knowledge.

Through its publishing activities, the Society strengthens the integrity, transparency, and global reach of scholarly communication.

Article VI: Scholarly Community
SWS represents a global scholarly community of researchers, academics, institutions, and early career scientists engaged in interdisciplinary scientific dialogue and knowledge exchange.

The Society fosters:

Long-term academic collaboration across disciplines and regions
Intellectual engagement between established and emerging scholars
The development of inclusive and sustainable scientific communities

By connecting individuals and institutions within a shared scholarly framework, SWS supports the continuous evolution of knowledge and the strengthening of global academic networks.

Article VII: Ethics and Standards
SWS upholds strict ethical standards in all aspects of research and publishing.

These include:

Zero tolerance for plagiarism and unethical research practices
Transparent, fair, and rigorous peer-review processes
Full disclosure of conflicts of interest
Responsible authorship and accurate citation practices
Retraction and correction procedures where necessary

The Society maintains a comprehensive Ethics framework that defines and governs these practices, ensuring that all scholarly activities adhere to internationally recognized standards.

Article VIII: Global Responsibility
SWS acknowledges its responsibility as a scholarly society operating within a global scientific and societal context.

The Society actively contributes to:

International scientific cooperation and knowledge exchange
The advancement of sustainable development goals
The application of scientific knowledge to address environmental, social, and cultural challenges

Through its interdisciplinary approach, SWS supports the role of science as a driving force for informed decision-making, societal progress, and global sustainability.

Closing Statement
SWS stands as a global scholarly platform where knowledge transcends disciplines and borders, fostering scientific excellence, intellectual integrity, and meaningful impact.

Through its commitment to collaboration, responsibility, and the integration of science, society, and culture, the Society continues to build a lasting contribution to the global advancement of knowledge for present and future generations.