Author Guidelines

STEPX (Sustainable Technology, Energy, and Policy Exchange) welcomes original contributions that advance knowledge in sustainable technology, energy systems, engineering innovation, education, and public policy. Authors are expected to follow these guidelines when preparing and submitting manuscripts.

1. Types of Contributions

STEPX publishes the following article types:

  • Original Research Articles – Full-length papers presenting novel findings, methods, or theories.
  • Review Articles – Comprehensive overviews of recent advances and future directions.
  • Technical Notes – Short papers on methodological advances or preliminary results.
  • Case Studies – Applied research with practical or industrial significance.
  • Policy Briefs – Concise analyses addressing policy and regulatory aspects.
  • Educational Practice Reports – Studies or experiences related to sustainability education and pedagogy.

2.Manuscript Preparation

2.1 Language and Style

  • Manuscripts must be written in clear, concise English.
  • Both American and British English are acceptable, but consistency must be maintained.
  • Avoid jargon; define all abbreviations and technical terms at first use.

2.2 Structure of Manuscripts

Manuscripts should generally follow this structure:

  1. Title Page – Title, author(s) full name(s), affiliation(s), ORCID (if available), corresponding author details.
  2. Abstract – Maximum 250 words, summarizing objectives, methods, key findings, and conclusions.
  3. Keywords – 4–6 keywords for indexing purposes.
  4. Introduction – Background, rationale, research gap, and objectives.
  5. Methodology – Detailed description enabling reproducibility.
  6. Results and Discussion – Presentation and interpretation of findings.
  7. Conclusion – Summary of contributions, limitations, and future research directions.
  8. Acknowledgments – Funding sources, institutional support, and contributor recognition.
  9. Conflict of Interest Statement – Declaration of any financial or personal interests.
  10. References – Follow journal reference style (APA 7th edition or IEEE depending on chosen style).

2.3 Formatting Requirements

  • File Format: Microsoft Word (.docx) or LaTeX (.tex).
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt, double-spaced.
  • Headings: Use clear hierarchical numbering (1, 1.1, 1.1.1).
  • Figures and Tables: Must be numbered sequentially with captions. Images should be at least 300 dpi.
  • Equations: Use equation editor; number equations consecutively in parentheses (e.g., Eq. 1).
  • Units: Use SI units consistently.
  1. Ethical Considerations
  • Submissions must be original and not under review elsewhere.
  • All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using iThenticate/Turnitin (maximum similarity index 20%).
  • Authors must disclose funding sources and conflicts of interest.
  • Research involving humans or animals must include appropriate ethical approval statements.
  1. Submission Process
  • Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system.
  • The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all listed authors meet the authorship criteria (significant intellectual contribution, drafting/revising, final approval, accountability).
  • A cover letter must accompany the submission, stating the manuscript’s significance, novelty, and confirmation of originality.
  1. Peer Review Process
  • The journal uses a single-blind peer review system.
  • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts.
  • Authors will receive feedback within 6–8 weeks.
  • Revisions must be resubmitted with a point-by-point response to reviewers’ comments.
  1. Open Access and Copyright
  • All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license.
  • Authors retain copyright of their work.
  • Articles are immediately and freely accessible online upon publication.
  1. Article Processing Charges (APC)
  • STEPX is committed to equitable knowledge dissemination.
  • Currently, there are no APCs for authors
  • Waivers and discounts may be available for authors from low- and middle-income countries.
  1. Post-Publication Policies
  • Errors discovered after publication will be corrected via errata or corrigenda.
  • Serious ethical violations will result in article retraction, following COPE Retraction Guidelines.