Editorial pubs.acs.org/ac
Filling Royce’s Shoes
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the early evening. Stay tuned for more details. Let me end with a final thanks to Royce Murray for his fantastic efforts. I tip my hat to him for a job well done!
here may be no better purpose for my first Editorial than to acknowledge the contributions of Royce Murray to the journal Analytical Chemistry. Royce has been Editor-in-Chief of Analytical Chemistry for the last 21 yearsthe sixth and one of the longest serving. Only Harrison Howe, the founding Editorin-Chief, served longer. During Royce’s tenure, Analytical Chemistry’s Impact Factor rose from 3.5 in 1991 to 5.8 in 2010! The journal is #1 in total citations (88,318) and articles published (1337) out of the 71 journals listed in the 2010 Journal Citation Reports analytical chemistry category. During his tenure, Royce implemented a number of journal enhancements, including new article types, formats, and dissemination modes, as well as leading other publication changes such as the journal’s transition from print to a primarily online publication. Recognizing the continuing “globalization” of analytical research, he also expanded Analytical Chemistry’s international reach and added several Associate Editors from outside of the United States; they currently make up 4 out of 11 of our Editors. Royce leaves Analytical Chemistry in outstanding shape; it truly is the premier journal in its field. As he has stated, we are the journal that reports the measurement of important chemical things (see his March 1, 2007 Analytical Chemistry Editorial). In addition to Royce’s impact on the journal, he is an outstanding scientist, having made seminal research contributions to electrocatalysis, chemical sensors, long distance electron transfers, and polymer design, among many other areas. And while he is “retiring” as Editor-in-Chief, he will continue to maintain his active research group at the University of North Carolina. I expect outstanding contributions from Royce over the coming years (and expect the best of them will be published in Analytical Chemistry). In addition to acknowledging Royce, the work of an outstanding group of Associate Editors needs a special mention. Current editors include Daniel W. Armstrong, Yoshinobu Baba, Norman Dovichi, Catherine C. Fenselau, Robert T. Kennedy, Frances S. Ligler, Richard L. McCreery, Reinhard Niessner, Jeanne E. Pemberton, John R. Yates, and Renato Zenobi; I am pleased that all have agreed to continue as Associate Editors. Also deserving recognition are the Managing Editor at the American Chemical Society’s Washington, D.C. office, Jennifer Griffiths, and the production staff in Columbus, who continue to delight me with their professionalism and high quality work. When it was announced I was replacing Royce, I received numerous congratulatory messages. Many of these also included several questions. The first encompassed a wide range of topics, but the second question was almost always a variant of: can you really write an Editorial every month like Royce? Whether I can generate interesting Editorials like Royce, only time will tell. Editorial-writing skills aside, I will strive to maintain the reputation and impact of the journal in terms of publishing outstanding analytical science and ensuring its continued influence on our discipline. If you would like to thank Royce personally for his contributions, the journal will be sponsoring a reception in his honor at Pittcon in Orlando, FL on Tuesday, March 13 in © 2011 American Chemical Society
Published: December 12, 2011 1
dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac203199y | Anal. Chem. 2012, 84, 1−1
