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      IJHSB – Privacy policy

      International Journal of High School Biology (IJHSB)
      Effective date: 28 October 2025

      International Journal of High School Biology operates the ijhsb.org website and related online services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information about users, authors, reviewers, and visitors.

      By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information as described here. Where required by law (e.g., in the EEA/UK), we will request your consent through a cookie banner or specific forms before setting non-essential cookies or sending marketing communications.

      Who we are and scope

      • Controller: International Journal of High School Biology (IJHSB)

      This Policy applies to information we collect on ijhsb.org, via submission and contact forms, newsletter sign-ups, analytics, advertising, and during peer review and editorial workflows.

      Information we collect

      Personal Data you provide
      • Contact and profile data: name, email address, affiliation, country/region, ORCID (optional).
      • Manuscript and peer-review data: manuscript files and metadata, authorship and contributor statements, conflict-of-interest disclosures, cover letters, reviewer reports, decision letters, and editorial correspondence.
      • Account data (if enabled): username, passwords (hashed), and preferences.
      • Payment data (if applicable later): if we introduce submission or publication fees, payments will be processed by third-party processors (e.g., Stripe/PayPal). We do not store full card details.
      • Contact forms: message content and the fields you submit.
      Data collected automatically (“Usage Data”)

      When you visit, we may collect: IP address, device and browser type/version, time zone, pages viewed, timestamps, referring/exit pages, and general diagnostics.

      Cookies and similar technologies

      We use cookies, pixel tags, and local storage for:

      • Strictly necessary (site security, load balancing, session management)
      • Preferences (e.g., language)
      • Analytics (traffic measurement, performance)
      • Advertising (if/when ads are active)

      You can manage non-essential cookies via our cookie banner and your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect site functionality.

      How we use information

      We use information to:

      • Provide, secure, and maintain the Service (hosting, backups, anti-abuse, troubleshooting)
      • Manage year-round submissions, peer review, editorial decisions, and publication workflows
      • Communicate about submissions, decisions, site changes, and policy updates
      • Operate contact forms and respond to inquiries
      • Conduct analytics to improve usability and content
      • Manage advertising and sponsorship placements
      • Meet legal, compliance, and recordkeeping requirements

      Legal bases (EEA/UK): consent (e.g., non-essential cookies/newsletters), contract/performance (submission and review), legitimate interests (site security, analytics with safeguards), and legal obligations.

      We do not use fully automated decision-making for acceptance/rejection; editorial decisions are made by humans.

      Peer review, submissions, and author data

      • Author and reviewer identities and correspondence are processed for editorial purposes.
      • We retain editorial records to preserve the scholarly record, detect misconduct, and manage appeals.
      • Please avoid including special category data (e.g., health, racial/ethnic origin, political opinions) in manuscripts unless it is scientifically necessary, ethically approved, and legally compliant.
      • For under-18 authors, we may request parent/guardian consent where required by local law and our policies.

      Analytics

      We use privacy-respecting analytics to understand site performance and content engagement. If we use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) or a similar service, it may collect IP-derived geolocation, device/browser details, and page interactions. We configure analytics to avoid collecting directly identifying information. You can decline non-essential analytics via the cookie banner.

      Advertising and sponsorship

      IJHSB may display contextual ads or partner with ad networks (e.g., Google AdSense) to support open access. If enabled:

      • Ad partners may set advertising cookies/identifiers to measure and personalize ads where permitted by law and consent.
      • A Consent Management Platform (CMP) (IAB TCF-compliant) will present choices to EEA/UK users.
      • You can change your ad preferences at any time via the cookie banner’s “Privacy & cookie settings.”

      We do not sell your personal information.

      Email communications and newsletters

      If you opt in (via Mailchimp), we will send editorial updates or calls for papers. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in the email. We share only the minimum data required with our email vendor (typically your email address and, if provided, name/affiliation).

      Contact forms

      Information submitted through contact forms is used solely to address your inquiry. We retain it only as long as necessary to respond and for follow-up quality assurance, unless a longer period is required by law or for dispute resolution.

      Children and students

      The Service targets high-school-age students (typically 13–18) and educators. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13 (or a higher local age threshold where applicable) without verifiable parental consent. If you believe a child has provided personal data without appropriate consent, contact us.

      How we share information

      We share personal data only with:

      • Service providers acting on our instructions (hosting, security, analytics, email, advertising CMP/ad networks, payment processors if applicable) under contracts that require confidentiality and appropriate safeguards.
      • Editorial collaborators (editors, reviewers) for peer review and publication.
      • Legal authorities where required to comply with law or protect rights and safety.

      We do not rent or sell personal information.

      International transfers

      Our Service and vendors may operate in multiple countries. Where required (e.g., for EEA/UK residents), we use adequate safeguards for international transfers, such as Standard Contractual Clauses, and implement technical/organizational measures.

      Data retention

      • Editorial record: Manuscripts, reviews, decisions, and publication metadata are retained to preserve the scholarly record and for research integrity.
      • Accounts/newsletters: retained until account deletion or unsubscribe.
      • Contact form data: retained only as long as necessary to handle your inquiry.
      • Cookie identifiers: retained according to category and vendor settings (see cookie banner/vendor list).

      We periodically review and minimize retained data.

      Your rights

      Depending on your location, you may have rights to:

      • Access your personal data and obtain a copy
      • Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data
      • Erase data (subject to exceptions, e.g., scholarly record)
      • Restrict or object to certain processing
      • Portability of data you provided to us
      • Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent
      • Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (e.g., your local data protection authority)

      For EEA/UK users, we may request information to verify identity. Note: we may decline erasure requests that would compromise the published scholarly record or legal obligations.

      California (CCPA/CPRA): California residents may request access, correction, deletion, and information about disclosures for “business purposes.” We do not sell personal information as defined by CCPA/CPRA. To submit a request, contact further.

      Security

      We use industry-standard safeguards, including TLS encryption, access controls, audits, and backups. No method of transmission or storage is fully secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security. We notify users and authorities of data incidents as required by applicable law.

      Third-party links

      Our site may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. Please review their policies before providing personal information.

      Changes to this Policy

      We may update this Policy to reflect legal, technical, or operational changes. We will post updates on this page and revise the effective date above. Where changes are material, we will provide additional notice (e.g., banner or email, where appropriate).

      Contact

      Questions or requests about this Policy can be sent to us.

      If you are located in the EEA/UK and believe your data protection rights have been infringed, you may contact your local Data Protection Authority. We would appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns first.

      Cookies

      “IJHSB uses cookies for essential site functions, analytics, and (where enabled) advertising. Manage your preferences via ‘Privacy & cookie settings.’ Non-essential cookies are used only with your consent.”