These include recognition from the Diamond Discovery Hub and the FECYT quality seal, which strengthen the international profile and commitment of ICM-CSIC to high-quality, fair and equitable science.
The scientific journal Scientia Marina, published by the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) and Editorial CSIC, has recently been awarded two important distinctions that consolidate its position within the international landscape of open-access scientific publishing with no costs for authors or readers.
On the one hand, Scientia Marina has been included in the Diamond Discovery Hub (DDH), a European initiative aimed at creating a comprehensive registry of “diamond” open-access journals—that is, those that charge neither authors nor readers. The hub seeks to enhance the visibility, accessibility and recognition of this type of scientific publication, often driven by academic institutions and research communities, as is the case with ICM-CSIC.
The journal’s inclusion in the DDH followed verification that it meets the six criteria established by the platform. In this process, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), acting as a trusted source for the European Diamond Capacity Hub (EDCH), directly validated its inclusion. This represents a step forward in increasing Scientia Marina’s international visibility and strengthening its commitment to a more equitable and sustainable model of scientific publishing.
In addition, the journal has also recently been awarded the FECYT quality seal, a distinction that certifies the editorial and scientific excellence of journals published in Spain. This seal assesses key aspects such as the quality of the peer-review process, internationalisation, visibility and impact of each journal. Receiving this recognition places Scientia Marina among the leading journals within the national scientific system.
The journal’s editorial team has welcomed these distinctions very positively:
“This dual recognition clearly reflects the robustness and rigour of Scientia Marina, as well as the commitment of the entire scientific community involved. Being part of the Diamond Discovery Hub reinforces our dedication to truly open and inclusive access, while the FECYT seal certifies the quality of the editorial work carried out over decades,” stated Natalia Rodríguez and Dolors Vaqué, members of ICM-CSIC and the editorial board.
Meanwhile, the journal’s Editor-in-Chief and ICM-CSIC researcher Josep Lloret highlighted that these achievements come at a key moment for the journal, which in recent years has promoted various initiatives to modernise and adapt to new challenges in scientific communication, such as renewing the editorial team and its image, optimising editorial processes, and developing strategies to reach new generations of researchers.
These new distinctions reinforce the journal’s role as a leading platform for the dissemination of marine science research, while consolidating ICM’s commitment to public, open and high-quality science, and to the transfer of knowledge to society.