General Principles
- The Aegean Geographical Journal recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools may be used for supportive purposes in scientific research and publication processes.
- However, responsibility for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical conduct of the scientific work rests entirely with the author(s). Generative AI tools cannot replace the researcher’s scientific judgment, original scholarly contribution, academic responsibility, or authorship obligations.
- The Journal is committed to transparency, accountability, verifiability, and ethical responsibility in the use of generative AI.
- Accordingly, all authors are required to complete and submit the Journal’s AI Use Declaration Form at the time of manuscript submission, regardless of whether they have used generative AI or AI-assisted tools. If AI has been used, the nature, purpose, and extent of its use must be clearly disclosed in accordance with this policy.
1. Policy for Authors
1.1. Permitted Uses of Artificial Intelligence
Generative AI and AI-assisted tools may be used for the following purposes, provided that full scientific responsibility remains with the author(s), their use is disclosed as required, and the resulting outputs are checked and verified by the author(s):
- Language, spelling, grammar, and stylistic editing,
- Translation,
- Abstract editing,
- Restructuring of existing text written by the author(s),
- Assistance with literature searches, identification of sources, or summarization of literature,
- Data analysis or data processing,
- Coding/programming assistance,
- Creating or editing tables, figures, maps, images, or diagrams,
- Use as part of the research methodology or research process.
Such uses cannot replace the scientific judgment or academic responsibility of the author(s). Content, analyses, code, source suggestions, and other outputs generated by or obtained with the assistance of AI must be checked and verified by the author(s).
1.2. Prohibited Uses of Artificial Intelligence
Generative AI and AI-assisted tools must not be used:
- In a manner that replaces the scientific judgment, original scholarly contribution, or academic responsibility of the author(s);
- To generate the manuscript’s core scientific arguments, findings, discussion, or conclusions in place of the author(s);
- To fabricate, falsify, or misleadingly alter data, findings, sources, or research results;
- To interpret or draw conclusions from scientific findings without author oversight and verification;
- To create non-existent sources or provide false citations.
No content, data, analysis, code, source information, or research output generated by or obtained with the assistance of AI may be used in a scientific work without verification by the author(s).
1.3. Accuracy of Sources
- The accuracy, accessibility, and bibliographic details of all sources suggested by generative AI tools must be verified by the author(s).
- The author(s) are responsible for the use of incorrect, incomplete, or non-existent sources. AI tools may not be cited as sources; scientific claims should, wherever possible, be supported by original and verifiable academic sources.
1.4. Images, Maps, and Other Visual Materials
- Images, maps, satellite images, or similar content generated by generative AI must not be presented as if they were actual research data.
- If AI-generated images that are not based on scientific data are used solely for explanatory or illustrative purposes, this must be clearly stated in the figure caption and in the relevant declaration section of the manuscript.
- If AI tools are used to prepare or technically edit tables, figures, maps, or images based on scientific data, such processing must not alter the scientific content in a misleading manner. Where such use is relevant to the research methodology or the interpretation of results, it must be disclosed in the relevant section of the manuscript.
1.5. Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Research Process
- If AI tools are used for data analysis, data processing, coding/programming, or at any stage of the research methodology, the tool used, its version (if known), the purpose of use, and the procedures performed must be described in the Methods section in sufficient detail to allow the research to be understood and, where appropriate, reproduced.
- If AI is used for literature searching, identification of sources, or summarization of literature as part of the research methodology, the manner of its use must also be described in the Methods section. Uses limited to auxiliary literature discovery must be reported in the AI Use Declaration.
- Code, analyses, and other research outputs generated by or obtained with the assistance of AI must be verified by the author(s).
1.6. Declaration of Artificial Intelligence Use
All authors are required to complete and submit the Journal’s AI Use Declaration Form at the time of manuscript submission, regardless of whether they have used generative AI or AI-assisted tools.
If AI has not been used, this must be explicitly declared in the form. If AI has been used, the nature, purpose, and extent of its use must be described in the form.
The declaration must include at least the following information:
- The name of the AI tool used and, if known, its version;
- The purpose of use;
- The stage(s) at which it was used and the extent of its use;
- Confirmation that AI outputs were checked and verified by the author(s);
- Confirmation that the scientific content and final manuscript were reviewed and approved by the author(s).
Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors and do not meet authorship criteria. The author(s) retain full responsibility for all scientific content and final academic responsibility for the manuscript.
2. Policy for Reviewers
Due to confidentiality obligations, reviewers must not upload manuscripts submitted for review, or any part of such manuscripts, to publicly accessible generative AI tools or to systems that may result in the data being shared with third parties.
Peer-review reports must reflect the reviewer’s own scientific evaluation. Generative AI tools cannot replace the reviewer’s scientific judgment or the peer-review report.
If reviewers have reasonable grounds to suspect the use of AI in a manner that may violate ethical principles, they should report their concerns to the editor.
3. Policy for Editors
Due to confidentiality obligations, editors and section editors must not upload manuscripts under evaluation, or any content from such manuscripts, to publicly accessible generative AI systems or to systems that may result in the data being shared with third parties.
Editorial decisions must be based solely on the scientific and editorial judgment of the editors. Generative AI tools cannot be used as editorial decision-makers.
Editors may request additional explanations, documents, or declarations concerning the use of AI when deemed necessary.
4. Ethical Violations
Failure to disclose generative AI use where disclosure is required; the use of AI to generate scientific content in place of the author(s); presenting AI-fabricated or AI-falsified data as genuine research data; using non-existent sources; or intentionally using inaccurate information generated by AI may be considered ethical violations.
If such conduct is identified, the Editorial Office may, taking into account the nature and severity of the case, suspend the evaluation process, request additional explanations or corrections, reject the manuscript, or initiate correction, retraction, or other appropriate ethical procedures for published articles.
5. Final Provisions
This policy may be updated as necessary in response to developments in generative AI technologies and international standards in scholarly publishing.
The Editorial Office of The Aegean Geographical Journal has final authority to evaluate and decide on matters concerning the implementation of this policy.
AI Use Declaration Form 📄 Ege_Cografya_Dergisi_YZ_Kullanim_Beyani_Formu_TR_EN_2026.pdf