Seismica's Data and Code Policy in Action

Seismica launched in July 2022 with a strong policy in support of data and code sharing. Two years later, the journal has upheld the policy while guiding authors toward successful compliance. Our authors are engaged and willing to share and cite their generated data and code, as well as reuse and cite others’ data and code. Notable achievements include the consistent use of Data and Code Availability Statements (DCAS), which ensure transparency and reproducibility. Authors also cite software, with a preference for open source options, and frequently use shared infrastructure such as GitHub and Zenodo for data and code archiving. Beyond mere citation, authors prioritize persistence, utilizing generalist, institutional, and disciplinary repositories to ensure the longevity of research outputs. However, challenges remain. While compliance with the data and code sharing policy is high, the lack of standardization in Data and Code Availability Statement (DCAS) formatting and acknowledgment practices can lead to inconsistencies in Seismica’s articles. Authors often usea mix of informal acknowledgments or web links over formal citations with DOIs, complicating attribution for organizations that rely on citations to bolster support. Moreover, software packages often lack clear citation guidance which may necessitate journal-level recommendations. Infrastructure limitations further hinder the seamless hosting and integration of data and code. As we move forward, Seismica should consider how to stay aligned with best practices in the field, and potentially offer standardized templates or examples to facilitate simplified and consistent data and code citation practices for authors.