analytical chemistry Editor: Herbert A. L a i t i n e n EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth S t , N W Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone 202-872-4570 Teletype: 710-8220151 Managing Editor. Josephine M Petruzzi Associate Editor. Andrew A Husovsky Associate Editor, Easton: Elizabeth R Rufe Assistan? Editors f3arbara Cassatt. Nancy J Oddenino Editorial Assistant: Andre D'Arcangelo Production Manager Leroy L Corcoran Art Director: John V Sinnett Designer: Alan Kahan Advisory Board: Donald H. Anderson, Peter Carr, Velmer Fassel, David Firestone, Kurt F. J. Heinrich. Philip F. Kane. Barry L. Karger, J. Jack Kirkland, Lynn L Lewis, Marvin Margoshes, Harry B. Mark, Jr., J. W. Mitchell. Harry L. Pardue, Garry A Rechnitz, W. D. Shults Instrumentation Advisory Panel: Gary D. Christian, Catherine Fenselau, Nathan Gochrnan, Gary M. Hieftle, Gary Horlick, Peter J . Kissinger. James N. Little, C. David Miller. Sidney L. Phillips. Contributing Editor Claude A Lucchesi Department of Chemistry. Northwestern University Evanston, 111. 60201 Pubiished by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 1155 16th Street N W Washington D C 20036
Books and Journals Division Director D H Michael Bowen Editoriai Charles R Rertsch Magazine and Production Racii Guiley Research and Development Seldon W Terrant Circulation DeveioDment Marion Gurfein Manuscript requirements are pubiished in the January 1978 issue, page 189 Manuscripts for publication (4 copies) should be submitted to ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY at the ACS Washington address
Our Golden AnniversaryII. Scientific Maturation In this issue are published the remaining papers presented at the SOth Anniversary Symposium held a t the Miami Beach ACS meeting under the title Analytical Chemistry, the .Journal and the Science. By 1950, the present form of Anal) tical Chemistry had been established. Much remained to be done, however, to carry out an e~olutionary process that continues to this day. The unique character of Anal? tical Chemistrji is that with its invited and staff-originated articles of the 4 pages, and with its special review issues, it can transcend the traditional role of a scirntific journal in publishing a selected portion of contributed research articles. Thus, it can influence the profession not only through the passive role of rejecting certain articles, but in an active way through invited features. Moreover, we enjoy a flexibility in technical level. Thus research articles must necessarily be written for specialists in the briefest form compatible with clarity of expression. In contrast, A-page articles can be directed to the general scientific reader and serve to broaden the background of the specialist. In addition. the journal can influence the development of new research areas by being alert to progress in adjacent sciences. A traditional scientific journal has a great deal of inertia to change, because potential authors examine past issues of a publication in deciding upon the most appropriate medium for new work. Invited articles have often served t o establish a beachhead for new research areas. Addition of new research fields. of course, creates increasing demand for publication space. As a matter of policy, Analjmtical Chemistr)' covers all phases of the subject, and therefore each new specialty to emerge creates increasing pressure on the older areas in the competition for space. To some extent the pressure has been relieved by the mergence of a host of specialized journals since the early 1960's. Even so. the rising demand for space has caused us to examine the alternatives of considerable expansion or increasing selectiveness. We have resisted the temptation for unrestrained growth while recognizing that it is increasingly necessary to reject good research papers on the grounds that other journals would be more appropriate outlets. What can we say about the future? While no one can predict with certainty, we can say that the current status of both the journal and the science is healthy. and that we have the resources and the basic flexibility not only to adjust to the science as it develops, but to influence that development.
The American Chemical Society and its editors assume no responsibiiity for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 50,
NO. 14,
DECEMBER 1978
1953
