About the Journal

Focus and scope

The Novedades Colombianas Journal is a serial publication from the Natural History Museum and the Biology Department of the University of Cauca, which makes scientific divulgation in Biological Sciences as a contribution to the construction of knowledge. Our journal publishes original and unpublished Research Articles, Short Notes, product of research carried out in the national and international territory that involves Colombia and the Neotropical Region. We also publish Review Articles resulting from the trajectory, maturity and research consolidation.

Articles can be written in Spanish or English with abstracts in English and Spanish, respectively.

Peer review process

Articles sent for publication will be reviewed, in the first instance, by the Editorial Committee to determine the relevance and fulfillment of the journal's requirements. Those who meet these conditions will be evaluated by, at least, two suitable professionals, using a review format specially designed for this. The acceptance of the manuscript will depend on the received concepts on the relevance and scientific attractiveness, the rigor in the treatment of the subject, the adjustment to the norms of the journal and its contribution to the development of science.

If the concept of the two referees coincides, the Editor-in-Chief accepts or rejects the manuscript. If it does not match, the concept of a third evaluator will be sought.

If the manuscript is rejected, the comments of the evaluators are forwarded to the authors for them to consider its publication in another medium.

If the manuscript is accepted with minor or major modifications, the observations of the peer reviewers are sent to the authors, so they can send a revised and corrected version within a maximum of 15 business days, accompanied by a letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief, listing in detail changes made based on the referees' observations. It will be the Editor-in-Chief who decides on the acceptance of the corrected version. After 15 days, the editor, at his discretion, will treat the manuscript as expired, so it must be submitted again following the indicated process.

Open access policy

Novedades Colombianas provides open and immediate access to its content, based on the principle of offering the public free access to research, which helps a greater global exchange of knowledge and the construction of a supportive and open academic community.

Moral and ethical principles for the publication of articles in the journal

The Management of the Journal and its Editorial Committee are responsible for the submitted manuscripts being evaluated and published based on their merits, carrying out a transparent process through suitable and honest peer reviewers who practice the utmost rigor, supported by complying with the ethical and moral principles of all parties involved. Likewise, Novedades Colombianas asks its evaluators and work team to review manuscripts to avoid any case of plagiarism as much as possible, thus ensuring the quality and originality of the published articles.

Publishing costs

The publication in the Novedades Colobianas journal of the Museum of Natural History, has NO costs for the submission, processing (submission charges) and / or publication of articles.

Journal history

The Natural History Museum of the University of Cauca (MHNUC), created during the Rectory of Doctor Antonio José Lemos Guzmán, was founded on September 1st, 1936, by the biologist Federico Carlos Lehmann Valencia, who donated his remarkable private collection of birds and mammals with about 100 specimens.

During the decades from 1940 to 1960, the Swedish Naturalist Kjell E. von Sneidern was in charge, who founded the publication "Novedades Colombianas", the Museum's scientific divulgation organ, endowed the Museum with the most extensive collection of birds exhibited in Latin America , mammals and reptiles, the product of numerous expeditions throughout the national territory (Bustamante, 1961 and Lehmann, 1961). The same naturalist in 1948 founded the Museum Herbarium, with very few specimens and basically teaching functions. The oldest specimens of the Herbarium correspond to collections of Kjell von Sneidern and Silvio Yepes Agredo, and in later years specimens by Jorge Araque Molina were added.