What's in a name?

As of January 1^st, 2013 this journal goes by the name of Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts. In its 14 years as Journal of Environmental Monitoring, this journal has gradually grown and evolved to become an important platform for the dissemination and discussion of state-of-the-art research on the environmental issues facing communities around the world. The number of articles published annually has tripled compared to a decade ago, the journal's reach is expanding to many countries, while the quality of the submissions is continually improving (see graph below). The journal has developed a focus on two overarching questions that need to be addressed in the search for solutions to current and future environmental issues: “what are the underlying processes?” and “what is the environmental impact?” As predicted in 2009, the journal has indeed “moved from measurement science to a fuller interpretation of measurement data with serious consideration of what these data really mean, what their implications are, and what they can predict” (Swackhamer et al.¹).

Yet, when talking to colleagues and fellow scientists over the past few years and encouraging them to submit their work to Journal of Environmental Monitoring, the members of the editorial board often encountered a reluctance that, upon further probing, was ultimately rooted in the name of the journal. We found that environmental scientists rarely see themselves as conducting environmental monitoring, especially if their research is aimed at increasing an understanding of environmental processes and impacts. It therefore was high time that the name of the journal be changed to truly reflect its scope, aspirations and content. Importantly, the scope of the journal has not changed, but rather the journal's name now proudly and loudly proclaims its scope.

It is my hope that Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts will quickly become the first choice for authors seeking to publish their best work in the field of environmental science. While few will make that choice based solely on a journal's name, we hope to have removed an obstacle to the journal's further progress and development. Authors can now be confident that the label does fit the content. As before, those submitting to Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts can expect professional and fast processing of manuscripts, excellent service, rigorous and fair reviewing, outstanding production value and wide dissemination and promotion of their accepted work. It also is worthwhile to add that those writing and reviewing for Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts provide a benefit not to a commercial publisher, but the Royal Society of Chemistry and thereby support its important work of promoting the chemical sciences worldwide.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Members who are retiring from the Editorial Board this year: Professor Beate Escher, Professor Omowunmi Sadik, and Professor John Ayres. All have made significant contributions to the journal and supported the name change; it is sad to see them leave. However, turnover of the RSC’s Editorial Boards avoids stagnation by ensuring new synergies as new Board Members are appointed.

I am looking forward to the rechristened journal's path ahead. While hardly a believer in nominative determinism in the realm of scientific publishing, I expect the stature, reputation and influence of Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts to grow rapidly in the coming years and invite you to contribute to this growth as authors, reviewers, and readers.

Professor Frank Wania

University of Toronto, Scarborough, Canada

Editorial Board Chair, Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts

References

1. D. Swackhamer, B. Escher, K. Jones, J. Centeno, P. Liss, B. Michalke, S. Mudge and O. Sadik, J. Environ. Monit., 2009, 11, 1727.

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