Dear Colleague,
We are pleased to invite submissions to Scientific Culture (SC), an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to the application of natural sciences and technology in the study, preservation, and interpretation of cultural heritage.
List of Main Subjects Covered by SC:
- Arts and Humanities: History
- Arts and Humanities: Conservation
- Arts and Humanities: Archeology (arts and humanities)
- Social Sciences: Archeology
- Social Sciences: Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Arts and Humanities: Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Environmental Science: Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- AI and Society
- Modern Trends in Higher Education and Interactive Technology: Shaping Scientific Culture in the Digital Age
- Digital Culture in Society
- Digital Culture in Modern Education
- Application of AI in Arts and Culture
- New Technologies in Archaeological Sites at Risk
- STEM in Arts and Culture
- Urban Expansion and Development of Cultural Heritage
- Application of the natural sciences to solve, document, interpret, and disseminate cultural heritage topics and policy
- Technological Innovation, Ethics, and Global Human Values
Submission Guidelines:
Language: Manuscripts must be in English.
Article Types: Research articles (3,000–5,000 words), case studies (1,500–3,000 words), and reviews (5,000–10,000 words).
Submission: To submit your paper, click the link: Submission Link
We are excited to receive your valuable submission of your research papers.
Warm regards,
Based on the details provided in the email and the information available from the official sources and third-party databases, there are strong indications that this email may not be from the real journal and could be associated with a hijacked site or predatory operation. Here's a detailed analysis to help you confirm:
🔍 1. Publisher and Hosting Institution Mismatch
Email Claim: The email states the publisher as Henan University.
Official Information: According to the journal's official website (sci-cult.com), the publisher is the University of the Aegean (Greece), and the hosting society is Alma Mater Europaea University (Slovenia) 5.
Henan University's Role: Henan University is a legitimate institution in China 47, but there is no evidence in the search results linking it to Scientific Culture. This discrepancy suggests potential fraud.
🔍 2. ISSN and Journal Scope
ISSN Match: The ISSN numbers provided in the email (print:
2408-0071, online:2407-9529) match the official journal information 5.Scope Mismatch: However, the email lists subjects like "AI and Society" and "Digital Culture in Modern Education," which are not prominently featured in the journal's official keywords 5. The official focus is on archaeology, conservation, and cultural heritage sciences.
🔍 3. Submission Process and Fees
Official Submission: The journal's official submission page (sci-cult.com/submissions/) requires authors to use a template and submit via a form. It also mentions article processing charges (APC) of 1200 GBP for open access publication 5.
Email Submission Link: The email provides a generic "Submission Link" without specifics. If the link redirects to a non-official portal, it could be predatory.
🔍 4. Editorial Board and Contact Information
Editor-in-Chief: The email signs off with Professor Ioannis Liritzis, who is indeed listed as the contact on the official website 5.
Contact Email Mismatch: However, the official contact emails are
info@sci-cult.comandmanageditor@sci-cult.com5. If the email you received uses a different address (e.g., personal or non-official domain), it is likely fraudulent.
🔍 5. Journal Reputation and Indexing
Scimago Data: Scientific Culture is indexed in Scimago (SJR) with a Q1 ranking in Archaeology and Q2 in Social Sciences 8. Its SJR score has fluctuated but remains respectable (0.403–0.607 in 2022–2024).
Predatory Signs: While the journal is legitimate, hijacked journals often impersonate reputable ones by spoofing websites and emails. The mismatch in publisher details is a major red flag.
🔍 6. Additional Warning Signs
Broad Scope: Predatory journals often expand their scope to attract submissions. The email includes modern topics like "AI and Society," which are not aligned with the journal's traditional focus 5.
Lack of Transparency: The email does not mention APCs, while the official site clearly states fees 5. This omission is common in predatory invitations.
✅ Recommendations to Verify Authenticity
Contact the Journal Directly: Use the official email addresses (
info@sci-cult.comormanageditor@sci-cult.com) to confirm the call for submissions 5.Check the Submission Link: Hover over the link in the email to see if it redirects to
https://sci-cult.com/submissions/. Avoid clicking if it leads to an unfamiliar domain.Consult Scimago/Scopus: Use the Scimago profile 8 to verify the journal's details. Legitimate journals typically have consistent data across indexes.
Look for Plagiarism/APC Policies: The official journal has clear ethics and APC policies 5. If the email lacks these details, it is likely fraudulent.
📊 Summary of Key Red Flags
| Aspect | Email Claim | Official Data | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Henan University | University of the Aegean | ❌ Mismatch |
| Scope | Includes AI/Digital topics | Focus on cultural heritage | ⚠️ Suspicious |
| Submission Link | Generic | Specific form on official site | ❌ Risky |
| APC Mention | Not mentioned | Clearly stated (1200 GBP) | ❌ Omission |
| Contact Email | Not provided | info@sci-cult.com | ⚠️ Unverified |
🚨 Conclusion
The email likely does not originate from the legitimate Scientific Culture journal due to critical mismatches in publisher information, scope, and submission details. It may be a predatory attempt to exploit authors. Do not submit or pay any fees until you verify through official channels. If you have already interacted with the email, scan your device for malware and report the phishing attempt to your institution's IT security team.
For further safety, always access journals via reputable databases like Scimago or Scopus rather than clicking links in unsolicited emails.
