Aims and Scope

ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal devoted to mathematics and its applications, published by the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UIN Sumatera Utara), Medan, Indonesia.

Aims

The journal aims to advance knowledge in mathematics and its applications by disseminating rigorous, original, and reproducible research to an international readership of academics, researchers, educators, and practitioners. It bridges theoretical development and real-world application in science, industry, finance, technology, and education, while upholding high standards of academic integrity and methodological soundness.

Scope

The journal publishes original research articles, systematic review papers, and methodologically substantive case studies contributing to pure and applied mathematics and to mathematics education. Topics include, but are not limited to:

Manuscripts falling outside these areas, or lacking demonstrable novelty and rigor, are outside the scope of the journal.

Article Types

Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan are evaluated through a rigorous double-blind peer-review process, in which the identities of authors and reviewers are mutually concealed. Each manuscript is assessed by at least two independent expert reviewers. Submissions must comply with the journal's Focus and Scope and Author Guidelines, and must be original, free of plagiarism, and demonstrate clear scientific merit and novelty.

Stages of Review

Indicative Timeline

Reviewers act independently and objectively; their comments are confidential and intended solely to improve the scientific quality of the manuscript. Accepted articles are published in order of final acceptance date. The journal reserves the right to reject any manuscript that does not meet its scholarly or ethical standards at any stage of the process.

Publication Frequency

ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan publishes three issues per year. Articles are issued in continuous fashion and assigned to the current issue upon completion of the editorial process.

This schedule enables timely dissemination of research while maintaining the journal's rigorous peer-review standards.

Open Access Policy

ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan is a fully open-access journal. All articles are made freely and permanently available immediately upon publication, with no subscription, registration, or payment required from readers. This policy is founded on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

This journal aligns with the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) definition of open access: users are free to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles, provided the authors and the journal are properly credited.

Digital Archiving and Preservation

ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan is committed to the long-term preservation of its scholarly content, ensuring continued access even if the journal ceases publication.

These measures safeguard the integrity and accessibility of the scholarly record over time.

Plagiarism Screening Policy

ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan is committed to upholding international standards of academic integrity. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. Every submitted manuscript is screened for originality, and confirmed plagiarism results in the actions described below.

Screening Tool and Threshold

All manuscripts are checked with Turnitin originality-checking software. A maximum similarity index of 20% (excluding the reference list) is permitted. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold are returned to the authors for revision or rejected, at the editor's discretion. Screening is performed twice: upon submission (initial screening) and prior to publication.

What Constitutes Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another's ideas, information, words, data, or figures without proper attribution—whether intentional or unintentional. It includes, but is not limited to:

Citation Requirements

Whenever an author draws specific information (a name, date, place, statistic, or other detail) or an idea—such as an interpretation, a choice of methodology, or a conclusion—from a particular source, a citation is required, even if the author subsequently develops the idea further. Attribution is not required only for genuine common knowledge. Where an author extends an existing idea, the original source must still be cited before the author's own contribution is presented.

Actions Upon Detection

Authors are encouraged to check their manuscripts with plagiarism-detection software before submission. Responsibility for the originality of a submission rests with the authors.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published three times a year by the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UIN Sumatera Utara), Medan, Indonesia. The journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement is based on the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and defines the ethical conduct expected of all parties involved in publishing: authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

Duties of Editors

Duties of Reviewers

Duties of Authors

Duties of the Publisher

The Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UIN Sumatera Utara, as publisher, safeguards editorial independence and ensures that commercial or other interests do not influence editorial decisions. The publisher supports the editors in handling allegations of misconduct and, where necessary, in publishing corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies.

Handling of Misconduct

Allegations of research or publication misconduct—including plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, image manipulation, redundant publication, and authorship disputes—are investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines. Confirmed violations may result in rejection, correction, or retraction of the article and notification of the authors' institutions.

Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

1. Purpose and Scope

This policy governs the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in work submitted to, reviewed for, and published by ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan. It applies to authors, reviewers, and editors across all article types. The policy exists to enable the responsible use of AI while safeguarding scientific integrity, reproducibility, confidentiality, and human accountability, and is aligned with the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

2. Guiding Principles

3. Definition of AI Tools

AI tools are software or systems that apply techniques such as machine learning, natural language processing, or deep learning to generate, transform, translate, summarize, or analyze text, numerical data, code, or visual material. This includes generative large language models (for example, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude), AI-based writing and translation aids, and AI systems used for data analysis, visualization, or the generation of figures and statistical output.

4. Permitted Uses

Under human oversight, authors may use AI tools to support:

Basic-language exemption: the use of AI solely for routine spelling, grammar, and punctuation correction does not require a formal declaration. Any use beyond this threshold must be disclosed under Section 8.

5. Prohibited Uses

AI tools must not be used to:

6. AI-Generated Figures, Images, and Data

AI must not be used to create or alter figures that constitute primary scientific evidence, such as experimental images, raw-data plots, or micrographs. AI-assisted generation of purely conceptual graphics (for example, flowcharts or schematic diagrams) is permitted only when the AI tool is explicitly named in the figure caption. Any non-generative enhancement of existing images must likewise be disclosed in the caption to allow case-by-case editorial review.

7. Authorship

AI tools are not eligible for authorship, co-authorship, or citation as an author under any circumstances. Authorship is reserved for individuals who make substantial intellectual contributions and can be held accountable for the work. Listing an AI tool as an author or contributor in any form may result in rejection or retraction.

8. Disclosure and Declaration

Where AI use exceeds the basic-language exemption, authors must include a dedicated statement at the end of the manuscript, immediately before the reference list, titled "Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies." The declaration must state:

9. AI Used Within the Research Methodology

This policy distinguishes AI used to assist writing from AI that forms part of the research method itself (for example, machine-learning models or algorithmic analysis central to the study). Where AI is part of the methodology, it must be described in the Methods section in sufficient detail to permit reproducibility, rather than only noted in the declaration.

10. Confidentiality of the Authors' Own Data

Authors are responsible for reviewing the terms and conditions of any AI tool they use, to ensure that the privacy and confidentiality of their inputs—including unpublished manuscripts, proprietary data, and personally identifiable information—are preserved. Citations produced or modified with AI assistance must be checked carefully, as such tools may generate inaccurate or non-existent references.

11. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

To protect confidentiality and intellectual property, editors and reviewers must not upload a submitted manuscript, or any part of it—including text, data, tables, or figures—into public or unsecured generative AI tools. AI must not be used to generate a review report or to substitute for a reviewer's expert judgment. If an AI tool is used only to refine the language of a review, that use must be declared transparently to the editorial office.

12. Editorial Screening and Enforcement

Editors assess AI-related disclosures as part of their ethical and methodological evaluation. The journal does not rely solely on automated detection; all assessments involve human judgment and direct communication with authors. Where undisclosed or inappropriate AI use is suspected, the editorial team may request clarification or revision, reject the submission, or initiate a formal investigation and, if warranted, notify the author's institution.

13. Consequences of Non-Compliance

14. Appeals

Authors may submit a written appeal against an AI-related editorial decision to the Editor-in-Chief, stating the grounds for dispute with supporting evidence and reference to the relevant sections of this policy. Appeals are reviewed by the journal's ethics committee and, where warranted, referred to an independent COPE adviser.

15. Policy Governance and Review

This policy is reviewed and updated periodically to reflect advances in AI technology and evolving best practice in scholarly publishing. Authors should consult the current version before submission and contact the editorial office with any questions regarding compliance.

16. Ethical Framework and References

This policy draws on the standards and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including the COPE Core Practices, the COPE position on authorship and AI tools, and its guidance on authorship, contributorship, and retractions. All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to uphold these principles as a condition of participation in ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan.

Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals

ZERO: Jurnal Sains, Matematika dan Terapan is committed to maintaining the integrity of the published record. When errors or misconduct are identified after publication, the journal acts in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Procedure

Requests and concerns should be sent to zero_journal@uinsu.ac.id.