Earthquake Spectra has introduced a new policy regarding authors' sharing of data and code associated with published manuscripts. All research articles must now include a Data and Resources statement detailing how underlying data and resources can be accessed. Authors are expected to provide the data needed to understand and evaluate their research at the time of peer review. This data should ideally be published in a public repository with a DOI. While sharing of research code is strongly encouraged, it is not required unless the code is a key research output (e.g., for studies whose primary contribution is a machine learning model not replicable by reading the article). The journal's editorial board will evaluate authors' efforts to publish and document data and code during the peer review process.
"Sharing of data and code is critical for advancing earthquake hazards and risk research," said Jack Baker (M.EERI 2004), Editor-in-Chief of Earthquake Spectra. "Our new policy will enhance the reproducibility, credibility, and impact of work published in the journal. This change also aligns Spectra with broader trends in scientific publishing toward open data. It builds on the journal's existing Data Papers category and ability to publish supplementary materials." Authors are encouraged to plan for data and code sharing at the start of research projects, and the journal provides guidance on recommended repositories and best practices.
The journal's editorial board has published an Opinion Paper detailing context and motivations for this policy. For more information on the new policy, please visit the journal's author guide here.
