Editorial: think like a scientist and act like a teacher

EDITORIAL

Think like a scientist and act like a teacher

This year the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) is celebrating the 20^th year of continuous publication of the Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (JBCS).¹ As part of these celebrations, the Editors of JBCS and the Board of Directors and Council of SBQ have organized two special issues of JBCS: the present one that is being distributed during the 32^nd Annual Meeting of the SBQ in Fortaleza, State of Ceará, and another one that will be distributed in July, during the 61^st Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC), to be held in the city of Manaus, capital of Amazonas State.

During these twenty years, JBCS has undergone several changes. It may have started somewhat tentatively but nowadays it has an outstanding position on the international stage - more than 50% of the papers submitted each year come from foreign authors.² JBCS is also a very good reflection of the development of Brazilian science over the two last decades. At the same time that this editorial is being written it has been announced that Brazil has achieved the 13^th position in international scientific rankings, advancing two positions, from 15^th to 13^th!

The first issue of JBCS was published in 1990 (http://jbcs.sbq.org.br/jbcs/JBCS%201990/ index_n1.htm), with nine articles and two communications involving 32 authors from nine universities. The present special issue has 22 articles and one review involving 136 authors from 21 universities from all over Brazil, except the Amazonian region, which will be featured in the second special issue, and covering practically all of chemistry's sub-areas. Thus, this issue presents a good picture of present-day Brazilian chemistry and shows why Brazil now occupies such an outstanding position on the world's scientific stage, with a significant participation of chemistry.

The rapid growth and diversification of Brazilian chemistry have only been possible due to the leadership of the SBQ, whose role in the formulation of plans and policies for Brazilian chemistry³ is acknowledged by all, from university teachers at the beginning of their careers to the presidents of the principal funding agencies. One example of this leadership is seen in the special issue of Química Nova (http://quimicanova.sbq.org.br/qn/qnol/2009/vol32n3/index.htm), that is also being distributed at the 32^nd Annual Meeting of the SBQ. The focuses of this special issue are the rational use of natural resources and the formation of the human resources needed to deal with the challenges of the 21^st century.

Another important example of SBQ leadership is its publication of Química Nova na Escola (http://qnesc.sbq.org.br/online/qnesc31_1/01_editorial.pdf), which presents articles and discussions aiming at improvements in Brazilian education at all levels.

Today the brave decision of SBQ, made in 1977, to have its own editorial program that would give value to Brazilian chemistry is more than justified even though, at that time, other scientific disciplines thought that Brazilian scientific journals could never achieve world-wide importance. Enlarging and revisiting that editorial program should be a commitment of all Brazilian chemists, from the more senior to the younger ones. This can be defined in the motto: Think like a scientist and act like a teacher.

Throughout its entire history, SBQ has been directed toward the production of science and the formation of high quality professionals. Science and Education are permanent focuses of SBQ's performance and of its editorial program. The best way of celebrating the 20^th anniversary of this journal is by keeping the quality of the SBQ's publications at the highest level, even while starting new ones. That is why Química Nova Interativa (QNint) is coming, to reinforce the mottoThink like a scientist and act like a teacher!

Jailson B. de Andrade (UFBA)

JBCS Editor

• 1. de Andrade, J. B.; J. Braz. Chem. Soc. 2009, 20(1), iii.
• 2. Loh, W.; J. Braz. Chem. Soc. 2009, 20(2), iii.
• 3. Galembeck, F., Pardini, V. L.; Quim. Nova 2009, 32, 565.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 June 2009
• Date of issue
  2009