Call for papers for a special issue of Journal of Island and Marine Studies on ‘islands and digital transformations’
Guest editors: Huan Zhang, Jiayu Bai, and H. A. C. C. Perera
Digital transformation has become a buzzword in recent years, as organizations across the globe seek new ways to adapt and thrive in the ever-changing landscape of technology. Digital technology presents major benefits and new possibilities for island countries and regions, communities, businesses, and islander. However, users should be aware of the potential negative impacts of these technologies, such as the spreading false information. Because digital transformations are often even more difficult to pull off than traditional change efforts, careful efforts in island governance must be taken to ensure that digital transformations have the desired results.
In line with this theme, we welcome submissions on the following topics:
- Metaverse, virtual reality and island futures
- Digital justice and island policy
- Digital islands and transformation challenges
- Digital technologies and island tourism
- Digital entrepreneurship and innovation in island regions
- Low-cost digital infrastructure and connectivity in island countries and regions
- Island studies and emerging technologies, such as blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and ChatGPT.
This special issue will be published in the Journal of Island and Marine Studies (JIMS) (http://islandandmarinestudies.press/), but individual papers will be published online once they complete the peer review and editorial process. JIMS is a web-based, freely downloadable, open access, peer reviewed journal that publishes papers advancing and critiquing the study of issues affecting or involving islands and seas.
For further information or if you are interested in submitting a paper, contact the special issue co-editors (see below for contact emails). Manuscripts should be between 5,000 and 15,000 words and must be prepared in accordance with the JIMS submission guidelines: http://islandandmarinestudies.press/guidelines-for-authors/.
Submissions of manuscripts will follow the following two steps: 1) all authors are requested to submit directly to guest editors. The guest editors will provide feedback, ask for revisions if necessary, and reject or recommend formal submission to JIMS; 2) articles recommended by guest editors are formally submitted to JIMS and undergo JIMS’s double-blind reviewing process. This will ensure articles submitted to JIMS have a higher acceptance rate.
All papers will be subject to double-blind peer review. Articles should be submitted electronically to *** jims.editoralboard@gmail.com *** and include four major sections: the cover letter, author biography, title page, structured abstract, research manuscript, references etc. The title page should contain the title of the paper, the author(s) name, the institutional affiliation and keywords. Manuscripts should follow the JIMS style guide available on our website.
Finally, authors should make sure to enter the name of the special section ‘islands and digital transformations’ in the appropriate place in the submission form.
Contact the editors for more information:
Huan Zhang: 0014979@zju.edu.cn
Jiayu Bai: gracefulgl@hotmail.com
H. A. C. C. Perera: chinthap@kln.ac.lk
Published Papers
This special issue is now open for submission.
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026