© Copyright 2000 American Chemical Society
SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 VOLUME 16, NUMBER 19
Editorial After two and a half years of serving as the Editor-inChief of Langmuir, this seems an appropriate time for me to write concerning the status of the journal and some changes we are responding to, beginning with the current issue. The Langmuir offices have been receiving an everincreasing number of submissions. For the year 1998, we received 1791 manuscripts, a record number and an increase of 27% over the previous year (which was also a record). For 1999, the total was slightly lower (1720 manuscripts), but the increase we had seen previously has resumed this year, and during the first six months of 2000 we have received 928 manuscripts, which suggests we will have a new record this year. The increase in submissions to Langmuir is for the most part a positive factor for the journal and the area of science it serves. Increased submission of papers indicates that we serve vital, growing areas of science and reflects that Langmuir is increasingly regarded as a leading journal in a number of these important areas. We have also noted that Langmuir has received increasing numbers of manuscripts in areas that are not currently identified in the subject areas previously listed in our table of contents. Some of these include biocolloids and biological interfaces, nanostructures, polymer assemblies, and materials related to colloid and interface science. Since these papers represent some of the cutting edge areas of colloid and interface science, we are pleased to receive these along with the increasing numbers of highquality papers in our “core” areas. Also with our (previous) subject area list, we often encountered ambiguity into which area was most appropriate for assignment, especially in cases where authors did not indicate their own preferences. Nonetheless, since numerous authors and readers have indicated their strong preference for “groupings” of papers within the journal, we felt it important to retain subject groupings. After several rounds of consultations among the Langmuir Editors and members of the Editorial Advisory Board, we are adopting a new manuscript groupings list and implementing the new subject groups in this issue. The new subject groups both add new categories and rearrange and combine subsections of
old groups. We will be happy to receive indications from authors as to which group they would prefer their paper be included. We also will be pleased to receive comments or suggestions regarding the new groupings. The continued increase in papers submitted to Langmuir could eventually have a negative impact on issue size and publication times. There are a number of things that authors, reviewers, and editors can do to meet this challenge. It is possible for authors to publish shorter papers and reach not only the general chemistry community but also the specialized reader through the creative use of Supporting Information. Supporting Information can provide the specialized reader with extensive tables, graphs, spectra, mathematical derivations, computer algorithms, detailed and repetitive experimental procedures, expanded discussions of peripheral points and even video clips demonstrating movable molecular models. All Supporting Information is easily accessible via the Web site http://pubs.acs.org. We are asking reviewers and editors to focus on the question of whether a paper contains new insights or important new results. We strongly discourage the acceptance of papers that substantially restate results or conclusions published previously, here or elsewhere. Finally, the editors will accept only the highest quality papers. All of the Langmuir editors are grateful to the author, reader, and reviewer community for their generous efforts and assistance in the publication of the journal. We apologize for the increasing burden our increased submission rate places on our invaluable reviewers. We are working to broaden the reviewer base and are always appreciative of nominations of potential new reviewers. We also appreciate your assistance and support of our editorial offices in all of the activities connected with the review and publication processes. We look forward to continuing to work with all of you and look forward to receiving your suggestions as well as your submissions. David G. Whitten, Editor
10.1021/la0010368 CCC: $19.00 © 2000 American Chemical Society Published on Web 09/12/2000
LA0010368
