Welcome to Societies & Sustainability (SAS) Journal
Societies & Sustainability (SAS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research in social sciences and their role in sustainable development. As a quarterly publication of the SGEM WORLD SCIENCE (SWS) Scholarly Society Vienna, SAS provides a dynamic platform for the exchange of knowledge and the dissemination of innovative research. The journal marks a significant step in the expansion of our publishing portfolio, which includes scientific books, proceedings, monographs, and journals in the pivotal area of social sciences and sustainability.
The mission of Societies & Sustainability (SAS) is to be a global hub for transformative research that informs sustainable practices, advances equity, and promotes inclusive development. The journal strives to bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world application, offering evidence-based insights that support societal well-being and resilience. Our goal is to foster knowledge exchange that addresses pressing societal challenges, with a focus on supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By encouraging multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, SAS facilitates collaboration across social, technological, and policy-oriented fields to drive impactful change.
The scope of Societies & Sustainability (SAS) covers a wide range of topics at the intersection of social sciences and sustainability. Our aim is to foster a holistic understanding of how societies evolve, adapt, and transform in response to contemporary challenges. The journal focuses on original research, methodological advancements, review articles, and case studies across the following key domains:
- Governance, Law, and Policy for Sustainable Societies
- Innovation in Business, Technology, and AI
- Social Sciences and Human Adaptation
- Sustainability in Urban and Public Spaces
- Education, Learning, and Social Equity
The breadth of these thematic areas ensures that the journal remains relevant to contemporary societal, policy, and research challenges. Our commitment to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research allows for comprehensive studies that span diverse fields, enabling innovative solutions to modern-day issues. SAS seeks to promote collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and educators, providing a shared platform for diverse perspectives on sustainability and social progress.
As an open-access journal, Societies & Sustainability (SAS) ensures that all articles are freely accessible to researchers, educators, and decision-makers worldwide. By adopting the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, SAS maximizes the dissemination and impact of its research, promoting knowledge sharing and scientific progress. The open-access model further supports interdisciplinary research, enabling scholars from various disciplines to access, share, and apply the latest findings, thereby fostering greater collaboration across the social sciences.
Article Processing Charges (APCs). To support the open-access publishing model and ensure global accessibility, Societies & Sustainability (SAS) applies an Article Processing Charge (APC) of €500 for accepted manuscripts. This APC helps cover essential publishing costs such as editorial processes, peer review management, digital archiving, and platform maintenance. Our aim is to make high-quality social science research freely available to the world while maintaining a sustainable publishing model.
Waivers and Discounts. SAS is committed to supporting researchers from diverse backgrounds. Authors from low-income or lower-middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank classification, may apply for partial or full waivers of the APC. Waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure equitable access to the publishing process. Early-career researchers and authors without institutional support may also request fee reductions or financial assistance.
Funding Support. Many universities, research institutions, and funding bodies provide financial support to authors to cover APCs. We encourage authors to check with their affiliated institutions, research funders, or grant providers to see if such support is available. If you have questions about funding sources or how to apply for a waiver, please contact the editorial office.
The journal follows a double-blind peer-review process to ensure objective evaluation and uphold scholarly excellence. Each manuscript is reviewed by experts in the relevant field, and the editorial board is committed to supporting authors throughout the submission and revision process. By encouraging submissions with a multidisciplinary focus, the peer-review process guarantees robust evaluation from a range of disciplinary perspectives, ensuring the highest level of academic quality.
The visibility of published articles is a priority for Societies & Sustainability (SAS). To increase discoverability and global reach, SAS actively pursues inclusion in leading scientific databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, ProQuest, and Google Scholar, among others. This ensures that the research published in SAS is accessible, discoverable, and citable, supporting the academic recognition of authors and researchers. Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary content further enhances discoverability, as such content is relevant to a broader range of scientific disciplines and user interests.
Societies & Sustainability (SAS) is more than a journal — it’s a global community of researchers, educators, and policy-makers dedicated to fostering knowledge for a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. We welcome submissions from scientists, scholars, and industry professionals, and we invite you to be part of this journey. Join us as we explore the social dimensions of sustainability, working together toward a more inclusive, just, and sustainable world. Through a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach, SAS invites researchers from diverse fields to collaborate, innovate, and contribute to global sustainability.
Explore, Publish, Inspire!
- Discover our Mission, Aims & Scope, Topics, Author Guidelines, Criteria for Publication, and Open Access Policy in the ABOUT menu and its submenus.
- The Scientific Committee menu provides access to our Committee Members and Reviewers, their Responsibilities, and an option to Apply as a Reviewer.
- In the Peer Review & Ethics menu, you can explore the Evaluation Criteria, Peer Review Process, Accepted Manuscript Types, and Publication Ethics guidelines.