Does anyone know anything about Nature Publishing Group? Is it simply a scam for vanity publishing? (I get this sort of e-mail all the time, but this one looks more legitimate).

Dear Dr. Frost,

In my role as Editorial Project Manager at Frontiers, an open-access publishing partner of Nature Publishing Group, I am seeking proposals for Frontiers Research Topics, in particular for our section on Evolutionary Psychology and Neuroscience in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

Frontiers Research Topics are collections of articles that bring researchers together around a common theme. They highlight recent developments and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and debate. Here is an example of a Research Topic in e-book format.

Research Topics on evolutionary psychology and neuroscience are approved by our Specialty Chief Editor, Prof Karol Osipowicz. Frontiers in Psychology will be receiving an impact factor in the summer of 2014.

There are several ways to get involved, most simply by proposing themes for a Research Topic. We also welcome suggestions of people who might serve as Guest Editors – people ready to take the lead on an international editorial project. I’d be happy to provide you with further information and discuss your possible involvement via email or phone, at your earliest convenience.

Frontiers Research Topics are cost-effective, high-impact vehicles for the dissemination of research results and have been embraced by the world of research, with dozens of new themes being launched every month. Please follow these links for more information about our publishing principles, our acclaimed collaborative review process, and about our Research Topics.

Frontiers is an open-access publisher, a service that unlocks an article’s full potential by making it freely available upon publication. So please keep in mind that authors will be asked to pay a publishing fee – standard for open-access journals – that will be specially discounted for authors participating in a Frontiers Research Topic.