Integrative Biology Editorial 2011

Two years on…

It has been an exciting two years since the inception of Integrative Biology and a great deal has been accomplished. IBiology represents a truly unique and timely undertaking in publishing articles that place equal emphasis on innovative technology and insightful biology. As interdisciplinary gives way to multidisciplinary, this is the future: to achieve new science in which disciplines cooperate without boundaries imposed by specialty journals. The need for this journal is evident in the rapid rise in submissions, the enthusiasm from biology-, bioengineering- and even physics-communities and the praise and endorsement we have received from colleagues and contributors.

We believe this success is due mainly to the timeliness of its scope, but we must not underestimate the impact of the RSC's generous provision of open access publication in this troubled funding period and shifting institutional economics. This strategy has had the desired effect in making IBiology an attractive venue for publication but perhaps more importantly ensuring that readership increases continually. However all good things come to an end sooner or later, and 2011 will see the introduction of subscription and publication fees that are favorably comparable to many other biology journals. We see this as a necessary evil of communication. As far as we are aware RSC is unique in launching new journals with a completely free access period in which no revenue whatsoever is generated in the first 2 years of the journals' life. Also, it is worth noting that with the RSC subscription model there are no fees (page charges or for colour reproductions) for IBiology authors.

This model has advantages as it provides authors with the certainty that their articles can be widely accessed; it allows readers to ‘get to know’ the journal (and to recommend it to librarians) and it allows RSC to build a relationship with both authors and librarians who have registered for the free access period. IBiology will continue to be free access until February 2011. We are confident that this transition will enable IBiology access for those institutions that have a real interest in the journal while continuing to allow high visibility and usage. Notably, IBiology will automatically go to subscribers of the RSC GOLD Package (i.e. all RSC content).

We would like to reassure you that there will be no sudden “turning off” of IBiology: we will continually monitor journal usage and will launch sales and marketing campaigns to ensure that visibility remains high. RSC has successfully used this model before when introducing new journals to the market. Happily, usage of Energy & Environmental Science, a journal that made this transition at the start of 2010 under a subscription model has been higher than under the ‘free access’ model.

With your continued support and enthusiasm, we will gain further strength and with strength we will entice the highest caliber manuscripts to be submitted to IBiology. The most satisfying achievement thus far, however, has been to provide a unique and timely venue to advance the cause of science integration in the 21st century.

Mina Bissell

Chair, Editorial Board

Mary Helen Barcellos-Hoff

Associate Editor

David Beebe

Associate Editor

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