Conflict Of Interest

1. Purpose and Scope

Urania is committed to ensuring that research, peer review, and editorial decisions are conducted transparently, fairly, and independently.

This policy applies to:

  • Authors and contributors;
  • Reviewers;
  • Editors and Editorial Board members;
  • Editorial staff and guest editors;
  • The publisher; and
  • Other individuals involved in the publication process.

All relevant competing interests must be disclosed promptly and updated whenever circumstances change.

2. Definition and Types of Competing Interests

A competing interest exists when a financial, personal, professional, institutional, academic, intellectual, or other interest could influence, or reasonably be perceived as influencing, an individual's judgment or decisions.

Competing interests may be actual, potential, or perceived. Their existence does not necessarily indicate misconduct.

Examples of competing interests include:

  • Financial interests: employment, consultancy, honoraria, research funding, travel support, gifts, stock ownership, patents, royalties, and relevant commercial interests.
  • Personal and professional interests: family or close personal relationships, supervisory relationships, employment at the same institution, recent or ongoing collaboration, academic competition, professional disputes, and institutional affiliations.
  • Other relevant interests: advocacy activities, membership in relevant organizations, or personal and ideological commitments directly related to the work.

These examples are not exhaustive. Individuals should disclose any interest that may be relevant, allowing Urania to assess whether action is required.

3. Responsibilities of Authors

All authors must disclose relevant competing interests when submitting a manuscript and update their declarations if circumstances change during the publication process.

Each manuscript must include a section titled Declaration of Competing Interests.

If no relevant competing interests exist, authors may use the following statement:

“The authors declare that they have no financial or non-financial competing interests relevant to this work.”

If competing interests exist, the statement must identify the author concerned and describe the nature of the interest clearly.

Authors must also disclose all sources of financial and material support and explain the role of funders or sponsors in:

  • Study design;
  • Data collection;
  • Data analysis and interpretation;
  • Manuscript preparation;
  • Journal selection; and
  • The decision to submit the work for publication.

If the funder had no such role, this must be stated.

The corresponding author must collect and communicate the declarations of all co-authors. Each author remains responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their own declaration.

Authors who suggest reviewers must not knowingly recommend individuals whose relationships with the authors could compromise independent assessment. Urania retains full authority over reviewer selection.

4. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose relevant competing interests before accepting a review assignment.

Potential conflicts include:

  • Recent or ongoing collaboration with an author;
  • Employment at the same institution as an author;
  • Close personal or supervisory relationships;
  • Financial interests in the research or its outcomes;
  • Direct academic competition or professional disputes; and
  • Substantial involvement in preparing the manuscript.

Urania will determine whether a disclosed interest can be managed or whether the reviewer must decline the assignment.

Reviewers must notify the editor immediately if a competing interest becomes apparent after accepting the assignment or submitting a review.

Reviewers must protect manuscript confidentiality and must not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal, professional, academic, or financial advantage.

5. Responsibilities of Editors, Editorial Board Members, and the Publisher

Editors, Editorial Board members, and editorial staff must disclose relevant competing interests upon appointment and whenever circumstances change.

An editor must not handle a manuscript when the editor is an author, has a relevant personal or professional relationship with an author, has a direct financial interest, is involved in a related dispute, or has another interest that could compromise editorial independence.

The manuscript must be assigned to a qualified, independent editor. A conflicted editor must not participate in reviewer selection, editorial discussions, or decision-making concerning that manuscript.

Submissions by editors or Editorial Board members must undergo the journal's usual peer-review process under independent editorial management. The author-editor must not participate in or influence the review or decision. The published article must disclose the author's editorial role and independent handling of the manuscript.

If the Editor-in-Chief has a competing interest, the matter must be referred to an independent editor or an appropriately authorized publisher representative. If that person is also conflicted, another independent and authorized party must be appointed.

The publisher, sponsorship arrangements, article processing charges, advertising, partnerships, and other sources of revenue must not influence editorial decisions. Any attempt to compromise editorial independence must be referred to an appropriate independent authority.

6. Assessment and Management of Competing Interests

Urania will assess disclosed competing interests according to their nature, relevance, timing, severity, and potential effect on research integrity or editorial independence.

Depending on the circumstances, Urania may:

  • Request further information or clarification;
  • Publish an appropriate disclosure statement;
  • Appoint an independent editor;
  • Replace a reviewer;
  • Obtain an additional independent review;
  • Restrict participation in editorial discussions or decisions; or
  • Decline participation when the conflict cannot be adequately managed.

Disclosure does not automatically result in manuscript rejection or exclusion from the editorial process.

Urania will maintain appropriate records of declarations, assessments, decisions, and actions, subject to applicable confidentiality and data protection requirements.

7. Undisclosed Competing Interests and Complaints

Concerns about undisclosed or improperly managed competing interests may be reported to the Urania Editorial Office.

Editorial Office: jurania@brin.go.id

For concerns involving the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Office: jurnal@rmpi.brin.go.id

Reports should identify the relevant manuscript or article, describe the concern, and provide supporting information where available.

Urania will assess concerns fairly, confidentially, and on the basis of available evidence. The person concerned will normally be given a reasonable opportunity to respond. Cases must be handled by individuals without relevant competing interests.

Before publication, Urania may:

  • Request a revised disclosure;
  • Replace a reviewer or editor;
  • Obtain an independent review;
  • Require manuscript revisions; or
  • Reject the manuscript where the nondisclosure seriously compromises the process.

After publication, Urania may:

  • Publish a correction;
  • Issue an Expression of Concern;
  • Arrange an independent assessment;
  • Notify a relevant institution; or
  • Retract an article when the findings justify such action.

Retraction will not be based solely on the existence of an undisclosed competing interest. The decision must consider its effect on research integrity, editorial independence, or the reliability of the published record.

Complaints concerning the application of this policy will be handled under Urania's Complaints and Appeals Policy. A person must not investigate or decide a complaint concerning their own conduct or a matter in which they have a competing interest.