A Cautionary Tale: Exposing the Predatory Practices of "Science PG"

By Harry Williams

The name Science Publishing Group (SPG) elicits a mix of intrigue and unease among scholars. This publisher, with its increasing portfolio of over 300 online journals, has managed to establish a foothold - but at what cost to the integrity of scientific discourse?

Today, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to expose the truth about Science PG and other such predatory publishers. It's not just about protecting the integrity of academic publishing; it's about safeguarding the careers and livelihoods of countless scholars, particularly those from marginalized communities, who are the primary targets of these exploitative practices.

So it's with a heavy heart that I find myself compelled to shine a light on the unsavory practices of a publisher that has long evaded scrutiny – "Science PG." The concerns surrounding SPG's credibility are manifold, with doubts cast upon the quality of its peer-review process and the true editorial oversight that governs its publications. Adding to the intrigue, many of SPG's journals bear the "American Journal of..." moniker, despite their origin in a country far removed from the United States. The publisher is actually based in Pakistan.

I'll admit, when I first encountered Science PG, I was intrigued by their claims of being a cutting-edge platform for scientific discourse. Their sleek website and promises of rapid publication timelines seemed alluring, especially for early-career researchers like myself, eager to make our mark in the academic world. But as I went deeper, I quickly realized that the veneer of respectability was nothing more than a façade, masking a predatory enterprise that preys on the vulnerabilities of researchers.

The red flags began to emerge almost immediately. I noticed that Science PG's editorial board was a revolving door of obscure names, with little to no discernible expertise in the fields they claimed to represent. Their peer-review process, touted as the bedrock of rigorous academic publishing, was a sham – a mere box-ticking exercise that prioritized speed over substance.

Worse still, I discovered that Science PG's business model was built on exploiting the desperation of researchers, particularly those from the Global South, who are often shut out of the prestigious journals dominated by the global North. They would bombard my inbox with unsolicited invitations to submit manuscripts, dangling the promise of quick publication and international exposure. But the true cost was hidden in the fine print – exorbitant publication fees that could cripple the budgets of underfunded institutions and individual scholars.

As I plunged deeper into the rabbit hole of Science PG's operations, I uncovered a disturbing pattern of predatory practices. They would aggressively solicit submissions, only to subject authors to a bait-and-switch tactic, wherein the original publication fee would be hiked up exponentially, leaving researchers with no choice but to acquiesce or risk having their work languish in publishing limbo.

The most egregious aspect of Science PG's modus operandi, however, was their blatant disregard for academic integrity. I discovered that their journals were rife with plagiarized content, shoddy peer review, and a complete lack of oversight or accountability. It was an absolute Wild West of academic publishing, where the only winners were the unscrupulous profiteers behind Science PG.

I'll never forget the heartbreak I felt when I learned of a young, promising researcher from a developing country who had poured their life savings into publishing with Science PG, only to have their work buried in a predatory journal that no one would ever read. The emotional and financial toll on that individual was devastating, and it served as a stark reminder of the human cost of these predatory practices.

Looking back now, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to expose the truth about Science PG and other such predatory publishers. It's not just about protecting the integrity of academic publishing; it's about safeguarding the careers and livelihoods of countless researchers, particularly those from marginalized communities, who are the primary targets of these exploitative schemes.

In the end, my hope is that by shining a light on the dark underbelly of Science PG, I can empower researchers to be more discerning consumers of academic publishing services. It's time to reclaim the pursuit of knowledge from the clutches of those who would seek to profit from it at the expense of quality and integrity. Together, we must stand firm in our commitment to upholding the highest standards of academic rigor and ethical conduct.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

NOTE: If you believe that this article, or any comments made under it, are unfairly critical of your organization, we encourage you to reach out to us directly through this email: support@oboden.com. Your perspective is important, and we would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your concerns and work towards a more balanced representation. 

Comments(126)

James Umukoro

March 19, 2025 09:15 AM

I actually wanted to published with them but after reading all the comments here, I think I have change my mind. I will do well to alert my colleagues to be wary of this publisher.

Raj M.

March 19, 2025 09:03 AM

I found my experience with Science Publishing Group to be quite disappointing. After a long wait for my manuscript to be reviewed, the feedback I received was vague and unconstructive. When my paper was finally published, I was unhappy with the quality of editing, which included several errors. Overall, it was not a positive publishing experience.

Yuna K.

March 19, 2025 09:03 AM

I agree with this article. Publishing with Science PG was a frustrating experience. The review process took much longer than promised, and I received minimal feedback that felt superficial. By the time my article was published, I noticed several formatting errors that made my research look unprofessional. I wouldn’t recommend them to other authors.

Taro M.

March 19, 2025 09:01 AM

Publishing my research with Science Publishing Group was a frustrating ordeal. The submission system was outdated and difficult to use, which made the initial process cumbersome. After submitting my manuscript, I faced significant delays in the review process, and communication from the editorial team was minimal at best. When I finally received reviewer comments, they were vague and did not provide the constructive feedback I was hoping for. After making revisions, I encountered further delays before my article was published. When it finally appeared, I was disappointed by the lack of attention to detail in the final version. Overall, my experience with Science Publishing Group was disappointing, and I would advise other authors to consider other publishing options.

Priya S.

March 19, 2025 09:00 AM

My experience with Science PG was not good. After I submitted my manuscript, I encountered long delays with little to no communication from the editorial team. This lack of responsiveness made me feel anxious about the status of my work, and I found myself repeatedly following up for updates. When I finally received feedback from reviewers, it felt superficial and did not address the core issues in my paper. After making the necessary revisions, I faced more delays in publication. When my article was finally published, I was disappointed to see several errors in the final document. Overall, my experience was frustrating, and I would not recommend Science Publishing Group to other authors.

Lin Y.

March 19, 2025 08:59 AM

I had high hopes for my publication with Science Publishing Group, but my experience was disappointing. The submission process was convoluted and time-consuming, and I faced technical issues that delayed my manuscript. After submitting, I waited for months to receive any feedback, and when it finally arrived, it was vague and unhelpful. When my article was published, I was frustrated to see numerous formatting errors and typos in the final version. It felt like my research was not taken seriously, and the lack of promotional support was disheartening. Overall, my experience with Science Publishing Group has left me feeling unsatisfied, and I would advise others to consider alternative publishing options.

Akira T.

March 19, 2025 08:59 AM

Publishing my research with Science Publishing Group was a frustrating experience. The peer review process took much longer than expected, and I felt that my manuscript was not given the attention it deserved. When I finally received feedback, it was not constructive and felt rushed, which left me feeling undervalued as an author. After I made the required revisions, I faced additional delays in publication. The lack of communication from the editorial team was disheartening, and I often felt ignored. When my paper was eventually published, I was disappointed to find several errors in the final version. Overall, my experience was frustrating, and I would think twice before working with Science Publishing Group again.

Rina H.

March 19, 2025 08:58 AM

My journey with Science Publishing Group was less than satisfactory. After submitting my manuscript, I faced long delays with little communication from the editorial staff. It felt like my work was sitting in limbo, and I had to follow up multiple times just to get an update. The lack of transparency during this critical phase was quite disappointing. When my article was finally published, I noticed several formatting and typographical errors that detracted from the quality of my research. I reached out for corrections, but my concerns were met with delayed responses. Overall, my experience with Science Publishing Group did not meet my expectations, and I would be cautious in recommending them to other authors.

Siti N.

March 19, 2025 08:58 AM

I was eager to publish my research with these guys, but the process was filled with challenges. The submission portal was difficult to navigate, and I faced persistent technical issues along the way. After submitting my paper, I experienced long wait times for feedback, which left me feeling anxious and uncertain. When I finally received reviewer comments, they were vague and lacked depth, making it hard to understand what improvements were needed. After making revisions, I encountered further delays in getting my paper published. When it finally appeared online, I was disappointed by the lack of promotional support. Overall, my experience was frustrating, and I would advise others to think carefully before choosing this publisher.

Kiran V.

March 19, 2025 08:57 AM

My experience with this publisher was marred by inefficiency and lack of support. After submitting my manuscript, I encountered delays without any updates from the editorial team. The review process felt disorganized, and I struggled to get clear answers about the status of my work. This lack of communication made the entire experience stressful and frustrating. When my paper was finally published, I was dismayed to find multiple errors that should have been caught during editing. The final product did not reflect the quality of my research, and I felt that it undermined my efforts. Overall, I was disappointed with my experience at Science Publishing Group and would not recommend them to fellow authors.

Mei H.

March 19, 2025 08:56 AM

Publishing with Science PG was not the smooth journey I had anticipated. The peer review process took much longer than promised, and I felt like my manuscript was sitting in limbo for months. When I finally received feedback, the reviewers' comments were inconsistent and did not provide actionable insights, which was quite discouraging for me as an author. After making the necessary revisions, I was met with further delays in the publication process. The lack of communication was particularly frustrating. By the time my article was published, I was disappointed to find that several formatting errors had made it into the final version. Overall, my experience was underwhelming, and I would hesitate to recommend Science Publishing Group to others.

Sunil A.

March 19, 2025 08:56 AM

I had high hopes for my publication with Science PGroup, but the reality was disheartening. The submission process was tedious, and I faced numerous technical glitches on their platform. After submitting, I experienced significant delays in receiving any feedback. When I finally did get comments from reviewers, they were vague and unhelpful, leaving me feeling frustrated and undervalued. Once my paper was published, I quickly realized that the promotional support promised by the publisher was nearly nonexistent. I expected more visibility for my work, but I had to rely solely on my efforts. Overall, my experience with Science Publishing Group was disappointing, and I would advise fellow authors to consider other options.

Aditi P.

March 19, 2025 08:54 AM

My experience with Science Publishing Group was deeply frustrating. After submitting my manuscript, I encountered an unacceptably long review process with minimal communication. I felt like my work was lost in the system, and my inquiries for updates were met with generic responses that did little to alleviate my concerns. This lack of transparency made the whole experience quite stressful. When my article was finally published, I was shocked to find multiple typographical errors and formatting issues in the final version. It felt as though my research had not been given the care and attention it deserved. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and would not recommend Science Publishing Group to others.

Hana R.

March 19, 2025 08:54 AM

Publishing my research with Science PG was a frustrating experience from start to finish. I found the submission process to be cumbersome, and after submitting my paper, I faced long delays in receiving feedback. When I finally got a response, the comments were vague and did not address the core issues in my work, making it difficult to improve it meaningfully. After I made the necessary revisions, I experienced further delays in the publication process. The lack of communication from the editorial team left me feeling ignored. When my article was eventually published, I was disappointed by the lack of support in promoting it. Overall, my experience with Science Publishing Group did not meet my expectations, and I would advise other authors to proceed with caution.

Rajesh P.

March 19, 2025 08:53 AM

I had anticipated a smooth publishing process with Science PG, but I was left feeling frustrated. After submitting my manuscript, I experienced lengthy delays with little communication from the editorial team. Whenever I inquired about the status, I received generic responses that did not provide any clarity. This lack of responsiveness made me feel like my work was not a priority. Once my paper was finally published, I was disheartened to find several errors in the final document. The quality of editing did not meet my expectations, and I felt that my hard work was not represented properly. Overall, my experience with Science Publishing Group was disappointing, and I would not recommend them to fellow researchers seeking a reliable publishing option.