Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to Rheinforum's conference proceedings undergo rigorous double-blind peer review. Author identities are withheld from reviewers, and reviewer identities are withheld from authors, throughout the evaluation process.

Review Stages

1. Initial screening — the editorial office checks scope fit, formatting, and completeness.
2. Independent review — each manuscript is evaluated by a minimum of two independent reviewers with relevant subject-matter expertise.
3. Editorial decision — the editor-in-chief weighs reviewer recommendations and issues a decision.

Timeline

The typical review timeline is 2 to 4 weeks from submission to first decision, consistent with our rolling, twice-monthly publication schedule.

Decision Categories

• Accept — the manuscript is approved for publication as submitted.
• Minor Revisions — the manuscript is accepted subject to small changes verified by the editor.
• Major Revisions — the manuscript requires substantial changes and a further round of review.
• Reject — the manuscript is not suitable for publication in its current form or scope.

Appeals

Authors who believe a decision was affected by a procedural error or a material misunderstanding of their work may submit a formal appeal to the editorial office, stating the grounds for reconsideration. Appeals are evaluated by the editor-in-chief, who may consult an additional independent reviewer before issuing a final determination.