Goodbye to Holzforschung

There have never been more scientific publications in the history of science than in our days, and never before have the challenges been greater for an academic publishing house than today. The reliable and rapid assessment of the scientific quality of a submitted work is a challenge. The careful editing of manuscripts, frequently submitted by less experienced PhD students, prior to publication also needs to be done as promptly as possible. The competitive pressure of the various journals is quantified by quality characteristics, with the merciless impact factor (IF) being one of them. With the journal Holzforschung, the publishing house De Gruyter has undertaken this task in the field of wood science with dedication and great success for 72 years. The number of issues published annually has increased from 6 to 12 with currently a total of about 1000 pages per volume; the IF has also almost doubled.

I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve for this prestigious journal as Editor-in-Chief (EiC) for 15 years. The work of an EiC for Holzforschung is not just a simple job: It is a kind of commitment to wood science and the conviction that wood science is more important than ever. Although the term wood science should be used in the singular, it comprises a long list of other academic fields, such as genetics, biology, biochemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, just to name the most important ones. They are equally important in order to better understand the biocomposite wood with its nano-, micro- and macrostructure. Various molecules with their supramolecular architecture contribute to this wonderful material, which we call simply “wood”. The scientific knowledge about wood is necessary to use it in a sustainable manner and as effectively as possible. This means that an EiC should be, as far as possible, familiar with several scientific branches the journal covers in order to assess and improve the quality of a scientific contribution. I am deeply convinced that my successor, Prof. Dr. Lennart Salmén, not only fulfills these requirements but even combines them in an ideal way and that he will continue the work of an EiC with commitment and success. At this point, I wish Prof. Salmén all the best and much joy for the demanding and interesting work ahead of him.

From the above it is also clear that many people with many professions and vocations contribute to the success of a scientific journal. I would like to sincerely thank the members of the Editorial and Advisory Boards of Holzforschung, as well as the countless reviewers, who have always done their work selflessly without being listed in the official staff lists. My special thanks go to the Managing Editors of Holzforschung, above all to Ingrid Grünberg, with whom we have formed a team for more than a decade. Thanks again to all the employees of De Gruyter for their activities in wood science for more than seven decades. My best wishes again to my successor, Prof. Dr. Lennart Salmén.