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Research integrity and ethics

12 May 2026

What is a conflict of interest within the context of scientific publishing?

A conflict of interest in scientific publishing exists when personal, financial, or professional relationships could influence, or be perceived to influence, the objectivity of research, peer review, or editorial decisions. The Frontiers Conflict of interest policy requires all authors and members of editorial boards to disclose their actual and potential conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest, sometimes known as competing interests and often shortened to COIs, are part of everyday academic life. Researchers collaborate, receive funding, consult for industry, sit on advisory boards, and build long-term professional networks. None of this is inherently problematic.

Behind the scenes

28 Apr 2026

Common mistakes in publishing: copyrighted materials

Submitting a research paper can feel like the final step in a long research journey. After months or years of work, the manuscript is finally ready for submission. But during the production stage of publishing, many manuscripts encounter the same avoidable problem: the incorrect use of images, figures, or other copyrighted materials. For early-career researchers in particular, copyright rules can be confusing. Many mistakes happen because authors assume that materials found online are free to reuse.

Research integrity and ethics

24 Apr 2026

AI literacy for researchers: how to use AI responsibly without compromising your work

Artificial intelligence is already transforming every part of the research process. Increasing numbers of researchers are integrating AI into their everyday workflows, yet many remain uncertain about how to use these tools both responsibly and to their full potential. AI literacy, knowing when to use these tools, when not to, and how to stay accountable for the output, is becoming a core research skill. We spoke with Simone Ragavooloo, Research Integrity Portfolio Manager at Frontiers, about why it matters and how researchers can protect both their own work and the credibility of science.

From our journals

23 Mar 2026

Next generation nutrition science: a new chapter in sustainable food systems

Nutrition science faces a pivotal moment as we enter the last 5 years of the 15-year timeline of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The challenges of food security, dietary health, and environmental sustainability are deeply interconnected, and the research agenda is shifting to reflect that complexity. Siloed approaches, whether focused on single nutrients, isolated policy levers, or narrow populations, are giving way to systems-level thinking that treats food as part of a broader web of trade, technology, ecology, and human behavior.

Behind the scenes

16 Mar 2026

What do journal editors do? A guide for researchers

When you submit a manuscript to an academic journal, its scientific evaluation is controlled almost entirely by other researchers. Publisher workflows and industry standards govern peer review, but the people assessing your work are working scientists. They volunteer their expertise to evaluate, improve, and ultimately decide what gets published. Understanding who these people are and how they work can change the way you approach the submission and peer review process. It can help you interpret decisions, respond more effectively to feedback, and see where editorial work fits within the broader research ecosystem.

Behind the scenes

11 Feb 2026

Ten years of Frontiers in Education: What have we learned about teaching, learning, and leadership?

To mark the 10-year anniversary of Frontiers in Education, we spoke to members of the journal’s editorial board about what has changed in education and what must come next. Across different countries, disciplines, and research traditions, three shared themes emerged: the human foundations of learning, the need for stronger bridges between research and practice, and the growing importance of openness and collaboration. Here is what they told us.

From our journals

11 Feb 2026

From rankings to resilience: a case study in building a One Health department

When a department climbs into the top 40 globally in a major ranking, it is tempting to treat that moment as the achievement. But rankings are outcomes, not strategies. In 2023, the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bari was ranked 36th worldwide in veterinary research. For Prof. Nicola Decaro, former Head of the Department, the milestone is less a destination than a data point, one indicator of deeper structural changes that have been underway for years.

New at Frontiers

06 Oct 2025

From FAIR to FAIR²: Why data principles matter and how publishing is evolving

If you’ve applied for funding in the last few years, you’ve probably heard of FAIR data. The principles - Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable - have become the global standard for research data management. They are endorsed by major funders, woven into policies like Horizon Europe’s Open Science mandates, and promoted by organisations from the OECD to UNESCO. But what do they actually mean for researchers and why should you care?