Editorial

EDITORIAL

Watson Loh

Editor

The Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (JBCS) is off to its 15^th year full steam ahead. It was halfway through last year that we received the great news that the JBCS had become the first scientific periodical published in Latin America to have its impact factor, measured by the Institute for Scientific Information, greater than 1. Actually, this is to prove what we had already observed: that the JBCS has been ever expanding its range and impact, publishing scientific studies the same level of the more established scientific periodicals. Analyzing the JBCS for 2003, more advances are to be seen: more articles were published (an increase of approximately 10% over 2002) - reflecting on the publication of more revision articles, most of which were associated with special numbers published throughout the year. There was quite a significant increase in the number of articles submitted in 2003 compared to 2002 (over 20%), confirming the ever increasing desire by authors to have the results of their research published by the JBCS. There was a steady participation of foreign researchers, both authors (approximately 20% of the studies published in 2003), as well as referees (20% of these consulted during the year). We observed a significant number of articles submitted from foreign authors, without the co-authorship of Brazilians, a reflection of the periodical's recognition, especially in other developing nations. Consulting foreign referee has been the policy of this periodical, with results that we have evaluated as positive, and has guaranteed that the quality of the articles published is the same level observed in other international periodicals.

As we look to the future, we can predict that the JBCS should reach a period of stability. However, the most recent statistical analysis has indicated that this day is still on the horizon, and that the periodical still has a long way to grow, both in quantitative as well as qualitative terms, which is a reflection of the quality of research in Chemistry and related areas in Brazil, and the cohesion of our own Chemistry community with the periodical.

On the occasion of the periodical's 15^th anniversary, this number brings some small modifications in its layout - an attempt towards modernity, without losing the standard it has been known for. The JBCS site has also undergone a makeover, and now offers easier navigation and other facilities as well as the complete JBCS collection, and the forthcoming papers. To this same end, and the greatest news on the periodical's new site, visitors will be able to come into contact with the system for electronic submission of manuscripts, as well as being able to do an on-line follow up on their status, which has been active since the beginning of 2004. This has been a desire of the entire community for a long time, and is in keeping with the tendencies of the main international scientific periodicals. Our own system, although with characteristics similar to those of other periodicals, was totally developed by the Sociedade Brasileira de Química. It allows for the complete electronic submission of manuscripts throughout their various stages of completion, their online revision by referees and editors, as well as complete accompaniment by the authors. No effort was spared to facilitate this process, and the editors and editorial manager have made themselves available to aid those who wish to use this system, as well as to hear users' suggestions for improvement. The JBCS will still accept manuscripts submitted by the traditional system, and may also still send printed manuscripts to the referees for analysis, if it is so requested.

With this new system of electronic submission, our periodical is taking one more step to hasten the submission and evaluation of manuscripts, hoping thus to ease the process for both authors and referees. We also hope for your continued support for this periodical, and that the coming years will continue to show the growth of the JBCS as well as the Brazilian Chemistry community's satisfaction with this periodical.

Reference

1. Pardini, V. L.; Pinto, A. C.; de Andrade, J. B.; J. Braz. Chem. Soc. 2003, 14, 672.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  25 May 2004
• Date of issue
  Feb 2004