Article Structure and Formatting

Authors are required to prepare their manuscripts in accordance with the structure and formatting rules set out below. Compliance with these requirements facilitates an efficient editorial process and ensures consistency across articles published in Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae (SEeB).

Authors are expected to submit manuscripts fully compliant with the official SEeB template and the requirements set out below. The Editorial Team cannot undertake extensive formatting or restructuring on behalf of authors.

The journal accepts original manuscripts in English only. Manuscripts must not have been formally published previously in any language and must not be under consideration by another journal. The prior posting of a manuscript on a recognised preprint server is not regarded as previous publication, provided that the preprint is disclosed at the time of submission in accordance with the journal’s Preprint Policy.

Authors are required to use the official SEeB Word template when preparing their manuscripts:

Download the SEeB manuscript template (Word): TEMPLATE

Please read this page together with the template before preparing and submitting your manuscript.

1. TEXT FORMATTING

File format: Microsoft Word (.docx), prepared using the official SEeB manuscript template.

Page size, margins, fonts, paragraph spacing, line spacing, indentation, and other layout settings are predefined in the template and must not be changed manually.

Authors should apply the styles provided in the template, including:

• the dedicated article-title style for the title;
• the Paragraph-SEeB style for the main text;
• Heading 1 for main sections;
• Heading 2 for subsections;
• Heading 3 for sub-subsections, where necessary.

Do not create headings by manually changing the font size, applying bold, or otherwise imitating the appearance of a heading style.

Use bold sparingly for emphasis in the main text. Do not apply bold manually to section or subsection headings.

Use italics for titles of cited works, foreign terms, scientific names, and other elements where italics are required by the conventions of the relevant discipline. Avoid using italics solely for decorative emphasis.

Do not use:

• manual tabs to align text;
• non-breaking spaces to shape lines;
• manual line breaks or additional paragraph breaks to control the layout;
• manual editing of letter spacing;
• spaces or deleted characters to force text into a particular position;
• manual formatting to reproduce the appearance of styles already provided in the template.

2. MANUSCRIPT LENGTH AND  STRUCTURE

Maximum length

The standard length of a manuscript, including the abstract, main text, references, and all Statements, should not exceed 40,000 characters with spaces, approximately 6,000–6,500 words.

Longer manuscripts may be considered in justified cases only after prior consultation with the Editorial Team.

Authors must follow the structure provided in the official template. A typical research article should contain:

1. Title;
2. Author(s), institutional affiliation(s), e-mail address(es), and a valid authenticated ORCID identifier for each author;
3. Abstract, 150–250 words, presented as a single paragraph;
4. Keywords, 5–10;
5. Introduction;
6. Main sections and subsections appropriate to the subject and methodology of the article;
7. Results and/or discussion, where applicable;
8. Conclusions;
9. Statements;
10. References;
11. Appendix, where needed.

Extensive datasets, very large tables, detailed methodological materials, and other supplementary content that is not essential to the main argument should be placed in an Appendix cited in the main text or submitted as a separate supplementary file, where appropriate.

Figures and tables that are necessary for understanding the article should remain in the main text close to their first citation.

Review articles

Review articles may follow a more flexible internal structure than research articles. They must nevertheless include:

• an abstract;
• 5–10 keywords;
• a clearly organised main text;
• a References section citing no fewer than four scholarly publications;
• all applicable Statements required by the manuscript template.

Review articles should synthesise and critically assess the state of research on a clearly defined topic and must comply with the academic, ethical, formal, accessibility, and transparency standards of SEeB.

Reports

Reports may follow a less formal internal structure than research articles. They must nevertheless include:

• a title;
• author information;
• an abstract;
• 5–10 keywords;
• a clearly organised main text;
• all applicable Statements required by the manuscript template.

References are welcome but are not obligatory where the nature of the report does not require them.

3. ABSTRACT AND KEYWORDS

Abstract

The abstract must contain 150–250 words and be presented as a single paragraph.

It should briefly present:

• the background and rationale of the study;
• the main aim;
• the method, approach, or conceptual framework;
• the key results or principal argument;
• the main conclusions.

The abstract must accurately reflect the content of the article and must not exaggerate its findings or conclusions.

Avoid references, footnotes, citations, and uncommon abbreviations in the abstract.

Keywords and Sustainable Development Goals

Provide 5–10 specific keywords that accurately reflect the main subject, concepts, and methodological or theoretical approach of the article.

Keywords should correspond to terms likely to be used in academic search engines and indexing databases. Avoid expressions that are overly broad or unrelated to the central argument of the article.

Where relevant, include keywords referring to the applicable United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, for example:

SDG 3; SDG 12; SDG 13

SDG identifiers should be included only where the article explicitly addresses the relevant goals.

Avoid unnecessary repetition of words already used in the title unless they are essential indexing terms.

4. EDITORIAL ADJUSTMENTS TO  THE  TITLE, ABSTRACT,  AND  KEYWORDS

The Editorial Team may propose editorial adjustments to the title, abstract, and keywords in order to improve clarity, indexing quality, discoverability, and compliance with the journal’s profile.

Such changes do not affect the scholarly content of the article and are presented to the author for approval at the final proof stage.

5. FIGURES, TABLES, AND  ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

In accordance with applicable digital-accessibility requirements, SEeB requires that all figures and tables be prepared in an accessible form.

Figures, including photographs, drawings, diagrams, maps, charts, and logos, must be accompanied by appropriate alternative text.

Tables must have a clear structure, meaningful header rows, and a concise textual description placed between the table title and the table itself.

Authors should ensure that colours used in figures, charts, diagrams, and maps are distinguishable for readers with colour-vision deficiencies and provide sufficient visual contrast.

Essential information must not be conveyed solely through colour, shading, position, shape, or other visual styling without an accompanying textual explanation.

5.1. Figures: Content, Files, and Alternative Text

Number figures consecutively:

Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, …

Each figure in the manuscript must have:

• a clear and informative title or caption placed below the figure;
• information about the source, where applicable;
• a corresponding reference in the main text.

Figures should be placed in the main text close to their first citation.

Uploading graphic files

In addition to figures embedded in the manuscript file, authors must:

• upload each figure as a separate high-resolution graphic file;
• use an appropriate standard format, such as JPG or PNG;
• name each file according to its order in the manuscript, for example Figure-1, Figure-2, or Figure-3;
• optionally add a short identifying keyword, for example Figure-1-map.

Editable charts

Where charts or graphs were originally created in Excel, they must be collected in a single editable Excel file and uploaded with the manuscript.

The submission should therefore include, where applicable:

• the manuscript file;
• separate graphic files;
• one editable Excel file containing all charts originally created in Excel;
• a separate Word file containing the alternative text descriptions for all figures.

Alternative text for figures

Each informational figure must have concise alternative text, commonly referred to as alt text, that can be read by screen readers.

Authors should not insert alt text directly into the figure properties in the manuscript file. Instead, alt text must be provided in a separate Word document. After acceptance, the technical editor will add the alternative descriptions to the graphic objects during production.

Prepare a separate Word file titled, for example:

Alt text for figures – [short title of the article]

List all figures in the order in which they appear in the manuscript.

For each figure, provide the full caption and then the alt text in a separate paragraph:

Figure 1. Full title of the figure
Alt text: …

Figure 2. Full title of the figure
Alt text: …

Alt text should:

• usually consist of 1–3 concise sentences;
• explain what the figure shows;
• communicate the substantive information available to a sighted reader;
• describe the main objects, relationships, variables, axes, units, trends, or comparisons;
• for charts and graphs, identify the variables on each axis, units of measurement, time period, and main trend or comparison;
• be factually accurate and consistent with the article;
• not rely exclusively on colours, shapes, or visual styling;
• avoid unnecessary introductory phrases such as “image of” or “picture showing”, unless this information is relevant.

Where a figure is purely decorative and contains no relevant information, state:

Alt text: decorative image – no informational content.

5.2. Tables and Short Descriptions

Number tables consecutively:

Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, …

Each table must have:

• a concise and informative title or caption placed above the table;
• a short textual description placed between the table title and the table itself;
• a clear and meaningful header row;
• an appropriate reference in the main text.

Tables should be placed in the main text close to their first citation.

The short description should normally consist of 1–3 sentences and should:

• state what type of data or information the table presents;
• identify the main columns, variables, groups, periods, and units, where applicable;
• clarify the structure of the table where necessary;
• indicate the most important pattern, comparison, relationship, or trend;
• avoid reproducing the content of every cell.

Tables must be created as real Word tables rather than images or screenshots.

Authors should define a clear header row containing concise and meaningful column headings. Do not rely on bold formatting alone to identify column headings.

In Word, select the first row and choose:

Table Properties → Row → Repeat as header row at the top of each page

This setting helps screen readers associate each data cell with the appropriate column heading.

Authors should also:

• avoid nested tables;
• avoid heavily merged cells;
• avoid empty rows or columns used for spacing;
• avoid excessively complex structures;
• explain all abbreviations, symbols, and units in the table, caption, or table notes.

Supplementary materials, appendices, datasets, and additional files submitted with the manuscript should be provided in accessible formats wherever possible.

6. TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS

SEeB accepts the following types of manuscripts:

Research articles

Original studies presenting new research results, theoretical analyses, conceptual investigations, or case studies within the journal’s scope.

Research articles should clearly identify:

• the research problem and aim;
• the theoretical, methodological, or interpretative approach;
• the principal results or arguments;
• the main conclusions;
• the article’s original scholarly contribution.

Review articles

Synthetic works summarising and critically assessing the state of research on a clearly defined topic related to the journal’s profile.

Review articles may follow a more flexible internal structure than research articles, but they must include an abstract, keywords, a References section citing at least four scholarly publications, and all applicable Statements.

Reports

In justified cases, SEeB publishes reports from important conferences, research projects, or academic events directly related to the Centre for Ecology and Ecophilosophy, the Chair of Ecophilosophy, or other scientific initiatives held at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw.

All manuscript types must comply with the general formatting rules, accessibility requirements, transparency standards, and ethical principles described on this page and in the official SEeB manuscript template.

Submission of a manuscript does not guarantee qualification for peer review. All submissions undergo an initial editorial assessment of their thematic fit, scholarly contribution, formal preparation, ethical compliance, language, and adherence to the journal’s requirements.

All published manuscript types must be in English and should include a title, author information, abstract, keywords, and all mandatory Statements specified in the SEeB manuscript template, unless expressly exempted by the Editorial Team.

7. SCOPE AND PROFILE  OF  SUBMISSIONS

Manuscripts submitted to SEeB must fall within the journal’s thematic scope and contribute to the humanistic, interpretative, ethical, philosophical, social, cultural, political, religious, ecotheological, legal, educational, or policy-oriented study of environmental issues.

Empirical, technical, or data-driven studies are considered only where they are placed within a broader interpretative framework relevant to the journal’s profile. Submissions that are purely descriptive or narrowly technical may be declined before external peer review.

A detailed description of the journal’s thematic scope and disciplinary profile is provided in the About section of the journal website.

Open Science and Research Transparency

SEeB supports the principles of open and transparent research. Authors are encouraged, where appropriate and ethically possible, to share research data, methodological information, and other materials that facilitate the verification, reuse, and dissemination of research results.

Preprint Policy

The prior posting of a manuscript on a recognised preprint server is not regarded as previous publication and does not prevent submission to SEeB.

Authors must disclose the existence of any preprint at the time of submission and provide its URL or persistent identifier.

If the article is subsequently published in SEeB, authors are encouraged to update the preprint record with a reference and DOI link to the published version.

8. REFERENCES AND CITATION  STYLE

SEeB uses the Chicago author–date citation style, 17th edition, adapted to the journal’s specific requirements. Bibliographic references must be provided as in-text citations and corresponding entries in the reference list. Footnotes may be used only for additional explanatory remarks and must not replace in-text bibliographic citations.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that every cited source exists, that all bibliographic information is accurate, and that every in-text citation has a corresponding reference-list entry.

Detailed requirements concerning in-text citations, reference-list entries, DOI and URL presentation, legal acts, institutional documents, and other source types are provided in the Citation Style Guide. Authors should also follow the examples and instructions included in the official SEeB manuscript template.

Authors are encouraged to engage with relevant international scholarship and ensure that the literature cited reflects the current state of research in the field.

9. STATEMENTS

The Statements section is mandatory and must be prepared in accordance with the official SEeB manuscript template.

Authors must retain all required headings and complete each applicable statement. Where a required statement does not apply, authors should use the wording provided in the template.

The Statements section includes, where applicable:

• Author Contributions;
• Funding;
• Institutional Review Board Statement;
• Data Availability Statement;
• Acknowledgments;
• AI Tools Declaration;
• Conflicts of Interest;
• Information concerning the role of the funder.

The Author Contributions statement is required only for manuscripts with more than one author.

Acknowledgments are optional.

The official wording, examples, and instructions for each statement are provided in the SEeB manuscript template and should be followed exactly.

10. REQUIRED SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Before submitting the manuscript, the corresponding author must complete the mandatory online thematic classification form indicating, among other things, whether the paper relates to:

• the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Polish heritage research;
• the gender equality perspective.

The information collected through this form is used for institutional reporting, indexing, and monitoring purposes and does not influence editorial decisions.

Authors who identify a relevant Sustainable Development Goal in the form are encouraged to include the corresponding SDG identifier among the article keywords.

The form must be completed before submission.

The form is available at:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/tSy0cq5cmX?origin=lprLink

11. PUBLISHING AGREEMENT

When submitting a manuscript, the authors are required to provide a completed and signed Publishing Agreement with Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University Publishing House.

The Publishing Agreement form is available for download from the journal’s website:
https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/pliki/seb/agreement.docx

The authors must complete and sign the Publishing Agreement and upload it through the journal’s online submission system together with the manuscript and the required accompanying files. Detailed information on the accepted methods of signing and submitting the Agreement is provided in the Publishing Agreement and Required Submission Information section of the journal website.

The publication process cannot be completed without a correctly completed and signed Publishing Agreement.

12. FINAL CHECKLIST BEFORE  SUBMISSION

Before submitting a manuscript, ensure that:

1. The manuscript is written entirely in English.
2. The manuscript has been prepared using the official SEeB Word template.
3. The manuscript does not exceed 40,000 characters with spaces, approximately 6,000–6,500 words, unless a longer text has been approved by the Editorial Team.
4. The manuscript follows the SEeB template and uses the styles provided in the file, including the dedicated article-title style, Paragraph-SEeB, and Heading 1–3.
5. The manuscript clearly fits the journal’s humanistic profile and develops an ethical, philosophical, social, cultural, legal, educational, religious, ecotheological, or policy-oriented perspective on environmental issues.
6. The abstract contains 150–250 words and is presented as a single paragraph.
7. The manuscript contains 5–10 keywords, including SDG identifiers where relevant.
8. All authors have provided their institutional affiliations, e-mail addresses, and valid authenticated ORCID identifiers.
9. All figures are numbered, cited in the text, have informative captions, and include sources where applicable.
10. All figures have been uploaded as separate high-resolution graphic files.
11. Where charts or graphs were originally created in Excel, they have been collected in a single editable Excel file and uploaded with the submission.
12. A separate Word file has been prepared and uploaded containing appropriate alt text for every informational figure and an explicit indication for every purely decorative figure that it has no informational content.
13. All tables are numbered, cited in the text, have informative titles, and include short descriptions between the title and the table.
14. Tables have meaningful column headings and technically defined header rows.
15. References follow the Chicago author–date style, and every in-text citation corresponds to an entry in the reference list.
16. DOIs are provided in https://doi.org/… form wherever available.
17. All required Statements are present and completed in accordance with the SEeB manuscript template. The Author Contributions statement is included for manuscripts with more than one author, while the Acknowledgments section is included only where applicable.
18. Any use or non-use of artificial intelligence tools in preparing the manuscript or conducting the underlying study has been disclosed in the AI Tools Declaration.
19. Any existing preprint has been disclosed and its URL or persistent identifier has been provided.
20. The mandatory thematic classification form has been completed.
21. All required supplementary and accompanying files have been uploaded.
22. A correctly completed and signed Publishing Agreement has been uploaded with the submission.