JEM Editorial: Focus on scope

It is with great humility that I assume the role of chair of the editorial board of the Journal of Environmental Monitoring (JEM), and with a sense of apprehension whether I can fulfill a role for which my predecessor has set such very high standards. Through the inspired leadership of Dr Deborah Swackhamer, aided by the hard work of the editorial team, JEM has made great strides over the last few years. The journal's profile and recognition in the scientific community has been raised tremendously. Concerted efforts to solicit more submissions to JEM have been exceptionally successful, with manuscripts received rising rapidly from 400 in 2006 to more than 1000 last year. Slightly increasing rejection rates during that time period indicate that the quality of submissions is increasing at the same time. Regular themed issues now highlight topical research issues, geographical regions of exciting new developments in environmental chemistry, or emerging investigators expected to shape the future direction of research into environmental chemical processes and effects.

The journal is clearly on an exciting forward trajectory. Still, when I talked with colleagues about the Journal of Environmental Monitoring over the past few years, I have often encountered a prevailing sense that the title of the journal is problematic for the type of research it seeks to publish. This is no longer the case. Under the Editorial Board's guidance the last few years have seen a significant widening of the journal's scope from a focus on the analytical chemical sciences applied to issues of environmental monitoring and measurement to one that is much more comprehensive in its application of chemical knowledge, principles and tools to the multitude of problems posed within environmental science. While still aiming to publish the leading advances in how to best make environmental measurements and how to devise and execute effective environmental monitoring strategies, JEM wants to be the leading forum for studies that use measured data to reveal, explain and quantify the processes underlying environmental issues, and that address the impact and implications of those measurements. As such, the title of the journal no longer fully reflects it wider ambitions and it is my hope that the environmental science community increasingly recognises JEM as the periodical of choice for “Cutting-Edge Research on Environmental Processes and Impacts”.

There is much that speaks for publishing in JEM. Most submissions are handled by committed and diligent professional editors in RSC's offices in Cambridge, resulting in high quality reviews and some of the fastest times from submission to publication. There are no page charges, and also no length limits for submissions. Colour illustrations carry no charge, if the use of colour is justified. Important papers are widely promoted and advertised, with outstanding and newsworthy papers made available for free for four weeks following publication. Finally, JEM's publisher, the Royal Society of Chemistry, is one of the largest charitable organisations worldwide devoted to advancing chemistry and the related sciences through the dissemination of knowledge. This takes the form of educational activities, conference organisation, advocacy for sound science policy and the promotion of chemistry within the general public. When publishing in JEM you support the Society's wide-ranging efforts to promote and develop the chemical sciences for the general benefit of society.

As we embark on another year at JEM, I would like to thank Dr Deborah Swackhamer for her leadership and years of service on the board. The impact of her work for the journal will be felt for years. My thanks go also to JEM's able editorial staff, especially tireless editor Harp Minhas, my fellow editorial board members,† and last but not least to the journal contributors and dedicated reviewers, without whom no scientific journal can flourish.

Frank Wania

Chair of Journal of Environmental Monitoring Editorial Board

Frank Wania studied Environmental Science at the University Bayreuth in Germany and received his Doctorate in Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry from the University of Toronto in 1995. After two years as a scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, and three years as a freelance researcher, he joined the University of Toronto Scarborough in 1999, where he is Professor of Environmental Chemistry. His research interests currently include the development and application of novel air sampling techniques for semi-volatile organic contaminants, the understanding of differences in contaminant accumulation along climatic gradients, the identification of new environmental contaminants by theoretical means, and the quantification of the role of snow in the environmental fate of pollutants.

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Footnote

† For an introduction to our current Editorial Board members and their research expertise please see DOI: 10.1039/c1em90067f

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