Gen AI Policy
Generative AI Policy
The Nigerian Journal of Applied Physics (NJAP) acknowledges that Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools are increasingly accessible and used within the research community. The journal adopts a clear, principled position on the use of such tools in the preparation and submission of manuscripts, consistent with international publication ethics guidance.
Policy Position
NJAP does not permit the use of Generative AI tools to write, generate, substantially paraphrase, or revise any portion of a manuscript submitted to the journal. Every submission must be the original, intellectual work of the named human author(s). This requirement applies equally to the manuscript text, to cover letters, and to reviewer response documents.
Scope of the Prohibition
The prohibition applies to all parts of the manuscript and all submission-related documents, including:
- Title and abstract
- Introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion
- Cover letter and any comments directed to the editor
- Responses to peer reviewer comments
- Reference lists and bibliographic entries
- Figure captions, tables, and supplementary materials
Disclosure Requirements
Authors must disclose any use of AI-assisted tools in the preparation of their manuscript at the point of submission, regardless of the purpose for which the tool was used. Failure to disclose use of GenAI in manuscript writing is a breach of NJAP's publication ethics and may result in:
- Immediate rejection of the manuscript before peer review
- Withdrawal of acceptance prior to publication
- Retraction of a published article where such use is identified after publication
- Sanctions in accordance with the NJAP Publication Ethics policy
AI Systems Cannot Be Named as Authors
Generative AI tools and large language models cannot be listed as authors or contributors on any NJAP submission. Authorship requires the capacity to take intellectual, ethical, and legal responsibility for the work — a capacity that no AI system possesses. Naming an AI as an author misrepresents the nature of the research and is not permitted under NJAP's authorship policy.
Obligations for Reviewers and Editorial Staff
Members of the NJAP peer review team and editorial staff must not upload manuscripts, review reports, author correspondence, or any other confidential journal material to public or uncontrolled AI platforms. The confidentiality obligations applicable to all participants in the editorial process apply equally to all interactions with AI tools. Breach of this obligation will be treated as a serious confidentiality violation.
Permitted Uses of AI-Assisted Tools
Subject to full disclosure, authors may use AI-assisted tools in a limited capacity for the following purposes:
- Grammar and spelling correction of text written in full by the authors
- Language assistance and translation, provided all intellectual content originates with the authors and the authors verify the accuracy of any translated text
- Standard computational, simulation, or data analysis tasks that are established practice in the field and are fully described in the Methods section
Any such use must be disclosed in the manuscript's Acknowledgements section or, where technically relevant, in the Methods section. The disclosure should specify the tool used and the nature of its contribution.
Context: Why This Policy Matters for Applied Physics
Applied physics research often involves precise quantitative claims, numerical results, and experimentally derived data that must be verifiable. The use of AI-generated text in such manuscripts poses particular risks: AI tools may confidently produce plausible-sounding but inaccurate numerical statements, fabricated references, or unsupported technical claims. NJAP's prohibition protects the accuracy and trustworthiness of the applied physics record and ensures that published results can be traced to genuine experimental or theoretical work.
Contact and Support
Authors who are uncertain about what constitutes permissible use of AI tools in the context of an NJAP submission are encouraged to contact the Editorial Office before submission.
Website: https://njap.nipngr.org/index.php/njap/about/contact
NIP Contact: info@nipngr.org | +2348036251745
