To submit a complaint as an AAS journal author, referee, or reader, please follow the complaints procedure below to ensure timely handling of your concern.
Complaints from authors and referees should be directed first to the editor handling the relevant manuscript.
Disagreements with editorial decisions may then be directed to the Lead Editor for the topical corridor, assuming this is a different person than the editor handling the manuscript.
If the disagreement is not resolved by the Lead Editor, then the Editor in Chief (EiC) and/or the Deputy EiC should become involved in the resolution process.
For complaints from members of the community who are outside the author and referee processes, the Science Editor and Lead Editor for any specific paper are not generally known. Thus, complaints from readers of AAS Journals shall be directed to the EiC or the Deputy EiC. These complaints should include a description of the nature of the issue and any relevant supporting documents.
As a last option for appeal, the matter may be directed to the Publications Committee for resolution. The decision of the Publications Committee shall be final and no further recourse will be available once their decision has been made.
The EiC or Deputy EiC shall respond within 2 business days and acknowledge to the complainant that their complaint has been received.
Within 2 weeks, the EiC or Deputy EiC shall respond more fully to the complaint and include any requests for clarification or additional documentation. If additional information is requested, the EiC or Deputy EiC shall have an additional 2 weeks after receipt of the requested information in which to arrive at and communicate a decision.
Any unexpected delays that cause the complaint resolution process to extend beyond this timeline (for example, waiting for information from an editor or other person associated with the situation) will be communicated to the complainant, and an estimated date for communication of the decision will also be provided.
Disagreements with the decision of the EiC or Deputy EiC should be explicitly communicated to the EiC by the complainant within 2 weeks of receiving a decision, along with a request to reconsider as well as clarification of any perceived misunderstandings.
As a last option for appeal, the matter may be directed to the Publications Committee for resolution.
The Publications Committee shall respond within 2 business days and acknowledge to the complainant that their appeal has been received.
The Publications Committee shall have 3 weeks to arrive at and communicate a decision. The decision of the Publications Committee shall be final and no further recourse will be available once their decision has been made.
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) have partnered with IOP Publishing to create an exciting new collection of astronomy and astrophysics ebooks to further the AAS mission: "to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe."
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