From discovery to recovery – Analyst and Analytical Methods working together for the analytical community

Dear readers, welcome to the 2011 January issues of Analyst and Analytical Methods. For the first time in the long and distinguished history of Analyst and the short and exciting life of Analytical Methods, we have come together to look forward to what our sister journals hope to achieve in 2011, and provide this joint Editorial, which underlines the direction and challenges for the coming year for the analytical science community.

Analytical Methods was launched in the autumn of 2009, and so 2011 marks the start of only the second full publishing year of the journal. However, despite its relative youth, 2010 has seen the journal grow at an impressive speed, with a very encouraging number of submissions and, judging from the geographical spread of published papers, covering 44 different countries over the first 15 issues, a rapidly growing international awareness. Analyst on the other hand, was launched in January 1876 with publication of a “Note on the Examination of Whisky and Other Spirits, for Methylated Spirit And Fousel Oil” by A. Dupré which was read at a meeting of the Society of Public Analysts at Burlington House. In the ensuing 134 years, Analyst has played a central role in the development of the analytical sciences worldwide and looks forward to continuing to provide visionary leadership in the new directions that interdisciplinary detection science is taking.

As is the case for any two such closely aligned publications, the question of journal scope is still one which we need to define more clearly for the many analytical scientists choosing to publish within the recognised quality confines of a Royal Society of Chemistry journal. Both journals recognise the pivotal enabling role of analytical science in furthering global life quality, social and scientific achievement, and sustainable development. These ultimate overarching global metrics, which are testament to the impact of the analytical sciences, can often be traced back to their origins as fundamental breakthroughs in the laboratory. Analyst seeks to publish these fundamental breakthroughs, whether they focus on bioanalytical science, advanced analytical systems, analytical nanoscience or exciting new developments which have yet to garner their own buzzwords. Analytical science published in Analyst may well be at a sufficiently early stage of discovery or development that the final application or impact of the research is too distant to view, and the potential benefits too speculative to clearly define. We envision that these advances, whether in the form of a previously unexplored detection process or technology, a new theory or a unique approach to an as-yet unsolved analytical challenge, will establish the foundation for future applications and exploitation of the science for specific high-impact chemical determinations.

From the first report of a new analytical technology, to developing a problem solving application, and ultimately a societal benefit, is a long uphill path, with many steps along the way. Analytical Methods is a vessel for the reporting of this first applied demonstration of any such new analytical technology or process. At this stage in the evolution of the technology, there is no expectation that all the possible implications and intricacies of the technology have been documented, in other words a fully validated and standardised methodology may be yet to come, but what is available will clearly demonstrate the applied potential inherent in the discovery. From here the demonstration will find further application out there amongst the wider analytical community, addressing problems in all fields of activity, many of which will be far beyond that proposed by the original discoverer of the technology. Historically this has always been the way of the scientific process, and is of course recorded within the complete annals of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Currently we find ourselves in a time of harsh economic realities and for industry, challenging operating conditions. Analytical science has always been a discipline based upon pushing the boundaries of what can be seen, measured and understood. Redefining those boundaries is the central objective of Analyst. Following through on these discoveries, the applications of analytical science are frequently about improving efficiency, obtaining better quality information and improving chemical processes through better understanding of chemical technologies, activities that fall squarely in the province of Analytical Methods. We firmly believe that, because information is king, and analytical scientists are dedicated to the production of high quality information about complex molecular systems, we, as a community have an important role to play in driving economic development and recovery forward. Working together our sister analytical science journals, Analyst and Analytical Methods can play an absolutely crucial role. Those who better understand their process and products, have the ability to move ahead faster, with fewer restrictions, ultimately achieving economic success, and in the current climate, recovery. Researchers reporting their findings within our sister journals are providing solutions to clearly defined problems, as well as to problems they may not have even considered. By doing so, this large community of analytical scientists, of such diverse and multidisciplinary backgrounds, can collectively provide fuel for the economic engine to once again accelerate forward following its temporary loss of steam. The editorial boards of Analyst and Analytical Methods look forward to working together with the community to engage these singular challenges.

Best wishes for 2011,

Brett Paull, Editor-in-Chief, Analytical Methods and Paul Bohn, Chair, Analyst Editorial Board

Plate1 Brett Paull

Plate2 Paul Bohn

News from RSC Publishing

Happy New Year and welcome to issue 1, 2011. 2010 has been an excellent first full year for Analytical Methods, and we have been delighted to see the number of submissions to the journal and range of topics that are covered. We do hope that you will continue to find the articles published in the journal both stimulating and useful in 2011.

Online access to Analytical Methods was free until the end of 2010, however please remember that your institution requires a subscription in 2011 to Analytical Methods in order for you to access all the great research. Contact your librarian to ensure your access to the journal is secured, or simply fill in the library recommendation form on our website, http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/forms/LibraryRecomm.asp.

We wish you a very happy and successful 2011 and look forward to your continued support of Analytical Methods. To submit your article, visit our website www.rsc.org/methods. Your comments and suggestions for the journal are very welcome at any time, please contact us at mailto:methods-RSC@rsc.org.

Dr May Copsey

Managing Editor, Analytical Methods

Quality and Growth Continues

It’s quality that really matters at RSC Publishing. And the 2009 Journal Citation Reports ® proved that our quality is better than ever as our average impact factor (IF) rose from 4.9 to 5.4. It’s an impressive figure, especially when compared with the average for a chemistry journal of 2.4.

But we don’t rely on just one or two titles to boost our average. It’s our entire collection that counts: of the top 20 journals in the multidisciplinary chemistry category, 25% are from RSC Publishing; and 90% of our titles have an IF over 3.

Our list of titles continues to grow: Food & Function and Catalysis Science & Technology are the latest titles to join our expanding portfolio. Plus, the number of articles we’ve published has increased by 74% in the last 2 years alone. We remain committed to providing a world-class publishing service to our authors, and delivering cutting-edge chemical science to readers throughout the world.

The IF and article growth figures provide a clear indication that more researchers than ever before are recognising journals from the RSC as a key resource to access the very best research.

2011 Books

With steady front-list growth and cutting-edge content, delivering excellence and authority, the RSC is one of the world’s leading chemical science print and online book publishers.

Nearly 1000 eBooks equating to one third of a million pages, the RSC eBook Collection delivers outstanding online research and opinion in a multitude of areas of the chemical sciences. Nine new RSC eBook Subject Collections offer additional flexibility.

With over 90 new print titles planned for 2011, including: second editions of seminal texts; and new RSC Polymer Chemistry and RSC Metallobiology series launching, our contribution to chemistry collections worldwide is diverse, topical and high impact. Expect another first class collection of best selling chemical science titles in 2011.

www.rsc.org/books

NEW RSC Publishing Platform

Access one million journal articles and book chapters in one simple integrated search.

The new RSC Publishing Platform has been developed in consultation with the international scientific and librarian community. Together we have identified the best and most valued interface and features that connects you with the highest quality scientific research. With one single search box, easily access our books, journals and databases for students, academics, researchers, scientists and professionals.

www.rsc.org/platform

Free Online Access

Free online access is available to all our newest journals, and more – all you need to do is register for an RSC Publishing personal account. Then, when you are logged in, you will be able to access all our free content. Currently this includes:

• All content of our newest journals for the first 2 volumes

• Any articles that are part of a special free access promotion (e.g. ‘hot’ papers, web theme issues, etc.)

• All journal content published more than two years ago (dating back to 1997)

• A sample chapter from each book in the RSC eBook Collection

With your username and password you can access the free content any time, any place – all you need is internet access. Register at www.rsc.org/personalregistration.

If your institution is a current customer with IP registered, you will be able to access all free content. Other institutions can apply for free online access to our newest journals using our online form: www.rsc.org/freeaccess.

ChemSpider

Have you heard about the RSC’s award winning chemical structure and text based search engine – ChemSpider? It’s FREE!

ChemSpider provides access to:

• millions of chemical structures

• an abundance of additional property information

• tools to upload, curate and use the data

• a multitude of other online services like the RSC Publishing Platform

ChemSpider is one of the richest single sources of structure-based chemistry information.

Visit www.chemspider.com (for mobile devices: cs.m.chemspider.com).

RSC 2011 Conferences and Events

As a learned society host more than 300 international conferences and events, the following have been outlined as areas you may find of interest. Visit www.rsc.org/ConferencesAndEvents to view the complete schedule of events for 2011

Faraday Discussion 150: Frontiers in Spectroscopy

Basel, Switzerland, 6–8 April

Analytical Research Forum 2011

Manchester, UK, 25–27 July

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