A new Editor-in-Chief for Journal of Polymer Engineering

2014 is a year of important changes for Journal of Polymer Engineering. As of December 31st, 2013, one of us (Ica Manas-Zloczower) resigned from the position of Editor-in-Chief. Beginning 1st January, 2014, the position has been taken over by the other of us (Nino Grizzuti), formerly an Associate Editor for the journal. This short, co-signed foreword to the first 2014 issue of the journal is meant as an occasion to let the whole journal community know about this “passage of baton”, but also to make some considerations about the past, present and future of the journal.

First of all, we want to underline that some relevant changes have also occurred in the composition of the group of Associate Editors. We want to express our gratitude for the impressive work done during the past years by Robert E. Cohen, Toshikata Kanai and Michael S. Silverstein, who left the Editors group at different times during 2013. At the same time, we want to warmly welcome three new members among the Associate Editors: Masaya Kotaki, Ana Vera Machado and Peter Van Puyvelde. Our best wishes for a great future inside and outside the journal activities go to all.

The history of Journal of Polymer Engineering dates back to the early 1980s, when it was founded by Freund Publishing House of Tel Aviv (Israel). A relevant breakthrough for the journal took place in 2010, when it was acquired by De Gruyter. Apart from a new, modern format, the journal greatly benefited from the implementation of an on-line submission system and on-line publishing.

As stated in its scope, “The Journal of Polymer Engineering publishes original basic and applied research contributions as well as recent technological developments in polymer engineering”. Over the years, this mission has been constantly kept updated by the journal. The word “emerging” has been always considered as central in the journal editorial policy, under different perspectives. On the one hand, from earlier times, when “Polymer Engineering” was mainly related to the use of standard, synthetic polymeric materials, continuous attention has been given to emerging and innovative areas. To cite a few examples: biopolymers, nano-materials, biodegradable polymers, polymers for biomedical and electronic applications. On the other hand, the journal has been giving increasing attention to works coming from scientifically emerging countries, believing that the advancement of a Polymer Engineering culture can only benefit from this globalization process.

As a consequence of the above commitments, the current state of the journal is that of a growing, worldwide reference point for the Polymer Engineering scientific and technological community. The number of submitted manuscripts and published articles has constantly increased over the years. In 2013, about 90 papers were published in nine issues for a total of about 900 pages, a remarkable result in itself. In coming years, the main goal of the journal will be to keep improving the quality and the variety of the published papers. This will be made possible by the collective efforts of the Editorial Board, the publisher, the reviewers and all authors whose scientific activity will be hosted in the pages of the journal.

We wish a happy and fruitful New Year to all authors and readers of Journal of Polymer Engineering.