As we always do at the beginning of every year, we would like to share with you our perspectives for the new-year ahead. Overall, our impression is that this analysis contains mixed feelings. On one hand, the JBCS most important figures remain safely constant: our manuscript processing time remains as low as ever, around 3 months, on average, between submission and on-line publication; the number of submissions has slightly increased since last year and we are close to a healthy submission level of one thousand manuscripts per year, majority of which from authors residing outside Brazil; our rejection rate remains around 65%, and only our impact factor has not raised yet, as much as we would like.
On the other hand, a series of challenges lie ahead. At the end of 2015, the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) decided that its Journals JBCS and Química Nova will take a final step towards full open access, that is to start sharing its publication costs with the authors. So far, these costs have been partially supported by grants from Brazilian Funding Agencies, and the difference covered by SBQ funds, a model that is no longer sustainable. As a result, a policy that shall recognize SBQ members with special discounts will be divulged and put in effect during the year of 2016. With that, the Brazilian Chemical Society and its publications reinstate the long-time decision to fully support the open access model. We hope to keep counting with our supporters during this transition period.
During the finishing year of 2015 the JBCS has started to use, with many positive effects, the anti-plagiarism tool iThenticate, benefited from an agreement supported by the Brazilian Association of Scientific Editors (ABEC). This has relieved Editors and reviewers from the duties of having to worry about blocking these publication malpractices. This year also sees the end of term for long-time Editors of the JBCS to whom we would like to express our immense gratitude: Profs Joaquim Nóbrega and Pedro Abreu, we greatly appreciate all these years of dedicated work for our Journal and pleasant company, which took so much of your time and energy. On the other hand, new Associate Editors are joining this board with the task of keeping up with the good work and sharing with us their new energy and ideas. Profs Edenir Rodrigues Pereira Filho, Emerson Ferreira Queiroz, Pedro Henrique Cury Camargo and Brenno Amaro da Silveira Neto, welcome aboard!
2016 also brings a series of special issues. One, on Chemistry at the Interface, is ready to be printed. Others with contributions from a selection of Young Brazilian Researchers and some selected from the 5th Brazilian Conference on Natural Products are being prepared. The JBCS will also take part in a collective Virtual Special Issue that is being prepared by the SBQ publications to be dedicated to the late Prof Angelo da Cunha Pinto.
So, as always, let's keep working and bring on the new-year!
Watson Loh
JBCS Editor
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
Jan 2016
