Scientific journal

Fundamental research

ISSN 1812-7339

"Перечень" ВАК

ИФ РИНЦ = 1,798

Positive and negative impacts of research

Research exists for the public good: it expands knowledge, improves health and safety, advances technology and the economy, and helps preserve nature. We encourage work that creates verifiable new knowledge and reproducible methods, delivers practical improvements, responsibly discloses data, materials, and code, and contributes to reducing inequality through accessible solutions and fair practices in the use of technology.

At the same time, we consider potential harm. We pay particular attention to risks to life and health (biological, chemical, physical), the potential "dual use" of results and methods (including biology, cybersecurity, and AI), threats to privacy and human rights (disclosure of personal/sensitive data, stigmatization), environmental damage, adverse socio-economic consequences (increased discrimination, algorithmic bias, unequal access to benefits), as well as legal risks — violations of third-party rights and regulatory requirements.

The editorial board respects academic freedom but makes decisions with public safety in mind. Each manuscript undergoes risk screening. In addition to the standard "accept/reject" decision, the following options are possible: "accept with conditions" (revision of text, illustrations, appendices, or data/code access mode), "postpone" (pending external approvals or completion of coordinated vulnerability disclosure), or "reject" if the potential harm significantly outweighs the public benefit and no reasonable mitigation measures are available. After publication, if there are reasonable signals about risks, the editorial team can quickly release a correction, limit access to materials, or start a retraction—with a clear explanation of why.