What Is An Ongoing Special Issue?

Ongoing special issues are themed collections that accept submissions over a defined period while remaining visible on the journal website. They provide a structured space for researchers to explore an emerging topic in depth without waiting for a single fixed publication date.

Articles are published as they are accepted and are later organized into a final collection. This approach keeps momentum high and allows readers to follow a topic as new work appears.

Current Opportunities

Current special issue topics and submission windows are listed on the JBSR Call for Papers page. Each call outlines the theme, guest editor team, and expected submission deadline. Authors should review the call to ensure a strong scope fit.

If no current issue matches your manuscript, you may still submit to the journal's regular track or consider proposing a new special issue.

Calls are updated periodically to reflect new directions in biosemiotics. If you see a gap or emerging topic, we welcome short inquiries to the editorial office. Early feedback can help shape future calls and connect you with potential guest editors.

How To Participate

Peer Review Standards

All special issue submissions follow JBSR peer review standards for rigor, transparency, and ethical compliance. Reviewers evaluate theoretical clarity, methodological soundness, and contribution to the field. Guest editors may recommend reviewers with topic expertise, but the journal editors oversee final decisions and ensure consistent editorial quality.

Benefits For Authors

Publishing in an ongoing special issue places your work alongside complementary research and increases thematic visibility. Collections often attract readers searching for focused topics, which can improve engagement and citations. Authors also benefit from coordinated promotion and an extended discovery window as new articles are added.

Ongoing issues allow rolling publication, so accepted articles go live quickly and begin accruing citations while the collection grows. This format supports timely research dissemination without waiting for a fixed release date.

For Guest Editors

Guest editors lead the intellectual direction of each special issue. They coordinate reviewer recommendations, provide topic expertise, and help maintain coherence across submissions. Final decisions remain with the journal editors to ensure consistent standards.

If you are interested in guest editing an ongoing issue, review the proposal guidelines and send a proposal to the editorial office.