A message from the new Editor-in-Chief
William Cavazza
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali
Università di Bologna
Piazza di Porta San Donato 1, 40126 Bologna, Italia
Volume: 134 (2015) f.1
Pages: 3
Abstract
"Everyone needs an editor." - Tim Foote
"Editing might be a bloody trade, but knives aren't the exclusive property of butchers. Surgeons use them too." - Blake Morrison
On January 1st 2015, I began serving as editor-in-chief of the Italian Journal of Geosciences (IJG). In doing so, I follow in the footsteps of Sandro Conticelli who – with the help of a small group of dedicated associate editors – has guided the development of the IJG during the years 2010-2014 to be a successful publication. Rejection rate is now about 50% and the last available impact factor is 1.679. These are numbers which put the IJG on a par with journals with far more resources and visibility. Recent developments include the on-line publication of the manuscripts soon after they are accepted and the new web page. Clearly, the challenge for the next editor-inchief and associate editors is to build on the successes of the previous editorial board. In outlining a course for the future evolution of the IJG, there are two guiding principles that – in my opinion – will be critical for its ultimate success: (i) transparency and (ii) balance.
(i) The journal must operate in an open and transparent manner. Guidelines for submission and publication of papers must be clear and followed consistently. Manuscripts meeting conditions for review – adequate sample sizes, novelty of information, impact on the field – must be evaluated by fair and impartial associate editors and reviewers. Reasons for rejection or acceptance of articles must be clearly explained to the authors. Focusing on a specific aspect, novelty of information is now becoming a worldwide issue in scientific publishing as the ever-mounting pressure-to-publish promotes the generation of shingled manuscripts, i.e. several papers sharing the same dataset to a large extent. This tendency needs to be opposed as it generates repetitive and irrelevant papers, drains resources for the diffusion of more significant scientific information, and creates a confusing background noise.
(ii) A balance of differing opinions and perspectives offers the journal credibility and depth. This should be reflected both in the contents of the articles and in the makeup of the associate and editorial review boards. It is also important that the journal publishes research about emerging themes in the Earth sciences. Over the last few years the IJG managed to attract manuscripts on a variety of topics. This should be implemented further in the effort to make the IJG the publishing outlet of choice for the entire Italian geoscientific community and for foreign geologists working in Italy.
Also important to the success of the journal will be its emphasis on outreach to developing countries – within the overall scope of the journal – and to young people interested in a career in the Earth sciences. Adhering to the principles of transparency, balance, and recognition of emerging themes – in conjunction with a timely and efficient review process – will lead to a wider audience for the journal and a greater impact on the field. I look forward to working with the entire Editorial Board as well as the talented and committed staff at the IJG headquarters in Rome to ensure the reality of this vision.
Finally, I would like to thank the outgoing associate editors Angelo Camerlenghi (OGS – Trieste) and Claudio Faccenna (Università RomaTre) for their prolonged effort and dedication to the promotion of the IJG. A word of welcome for the new associate editors Massimo Frezzotti (ENEA – Roma), Lorenzo Rook (Università di Firenze), and Roberto Sulpizio (University of Bari) who have found the time and energy for this most exasperating yet essential task.
"Editing might be a bloody trade, but knives aren't the exclusive property of butchers. Surgeons use them too." - Blake Morrison
On January 1st 2015, I began serving as editor-in-chief of the Italian Journal of Geosciences (IJG). In doing so, I follow in the footsteps of Sandro Conticelli who – with the help of a small group of dedicated associate editors – has guided the development of the IJG during the years 2010-2014 to be a successful publication. Rejection rate is now about 50% and the last available impact factor is 1.679. These are numbers which put the IJG on a par with journals with far more resources and visibility. Recent developments include the on-line publication of the manuscripts soon after they are accepted and the new web page. Clearly, the challenge for the next editor-inchief and associate editors is to build on the successes of the previous editorial board. In outlining a course for the future evolution of the IJG, there are two guiding principles that – in my opinion – will be critical for its ultimate success: (i) transparency and (ii) balance.
(i) The journal must operate in an open and transparent manner. Guidelines for submission and publication of papers must be clear and followed consistently. Manuscripts meeting conditions for review – adequate sample sizes, novelty of information, impact on the field – must be evaluated by fair and impartial associate editors and reviewers. Reasons for rejection or acceptance of articles must be clearly explained to the authors. Focusing on a specific aspect, novelty of information is now becoming a worldwide issue in scientific publishing as the ever-mounting pressure-to-publish promotes the generation of shingled manuscripts, i.e. several papers sharing the same dataset to a large extent. This tendency needs to be opposed as it generates repetitive and irrelevant papers, drains resources for the diffusion of more significant scientific information, and creates a confusing background noise.
(ii) A balance of differing opinions and perspectives offers the journal credibility and depth. This should be reflected both in the contents of the articles and in the makeup of the associate and editorial review boards. It is also important that the journal publishes research about emerging themes in the Earth sciences. Over the last few years the IJG managed to attract manuscripts on a variety of topics. This should be implemented further in the effort to make the IJG the publishing outlet of choice for the entire Italian geoscientific community and for foreign geologists working in Italy.
Also important to the success of the journal will be its emphasis on outreach to developing countries – within the overall scope of the journal – and to young people interested in a career in the Earth sciences. Adhering to the principles of transparency, balance, and recognition of emerging themes – in conjunction with a timely and efficient review process – will lead to a wider audience for the journal and a greater impact on the field. I look forward to working with the entire Editorial Board as well as the talented and committed staff at the IJG headquarters in Rome to ensure the reality of this vision.
Finally, I would like to thank the outgoing associate editors Angelo Camerlenghi (OGS – Trieste) and Claudio Faccenna (Università RomaTre) for their prolonged effort and dedication to the promotion of the IJG. A word of welcome for the new associate editors Massimo Frezzotti (ENEA – Roma), Lorenzo Rook (Università di Firenze), and Roberto Sulpizio (University of Bari) who have found the time and energy for this most exasperating yet essential task.
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