Kirk Schanze on ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Journal Interview, August 2011
The journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaceshas been named a Rising Star in the field of Materials Science in Essential Science IndicatorsSM from Thomson Reuters twice this year, in May and in July. The journal's current record in this field includes 861 papers cited a total of 2,082 times between its launch in 2009 and April 30, 2011. Its 2010 Impact Factor in Journal Citation Reports® is 2.925. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is part of the American Chemical Society suite of publications. Its Editor-in-Chief is Dr. Kirk Schanze, who is also Professor of Chemistry and Chairman of the Organic Chemistry Division of the University of Florida in Gainesville. |
Below, Schanze talks with ScienceWatch.com about the journal's history and its niche in the field of Materials Science.
Did you expect ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces to become highly cited, or is this surprising to you?
From the outset we anticipated that ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces would receive broad interest in the community of scientists working in the interdisciplinary field of materials/interfaces science and engineering. We have also specifically targeted the journal to highlight work in applications-oriented research. Since research having direct application is becoming increasingly important due to changes in the scientific and engineering community as well as in the general society, it is not surprising to see that the content in the journal is receiving considerable interest.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is the first journal within the ACS Publications suite of physical and materials science journals to be focused primarily on applications-based research. It is evident that the suite of ACS journals is widely read by the scientific community, and thus it is not surprising that there is strong interest in the new journal, which brings applications-oriented research to the forefront.
How would you account for the high citation rate of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces?
First, we believe that the high quality of peer-reviewing and editing that is offered by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces makes it possible for the journal to publish high-quality/high-impact research papers. We have an excellent group of editors who are leaders and active researchers in the area of applied materials research, combined with an advisory board with broad expertise and an excellent pool of reviewers who tirelessly provide input to the authors and editors.
"In a broad sense, the success of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is tied to the increased value which our society is placing on goal- or application-oriented research."
As the journal has developed over the past three years, there are specific areas of application-based research that are receiving considerable attention, and thus leading papers are being widely read and cited by the respective technical communities. Some examples of these areas include organic and hybrid solar cells, organic electronics, bioelectronics and biomaterials. These areas of applied research are very active and fast moving, so that new work is rapidly digested by the community and has a strong and immediate impact.
Would you give us a brief history of the journal?
The concept for the journal was developed in 2007-2008 by a team of staff and editors at ACS Publications and its development was approved by ACS governance in early 2008. I was appointed as Editor-in-Chief in mid-2008 and immediately began working on the development of the journal, including writing the journal scope, appointing the inaugural advisory board and establishing the journal-specific ACS Paragon Plus-based web platform for manuscript submission.
The journal was ready to receive manuscripts for submission by mid-August 2008 and the launch was timed to coincide with the 236th Fall ACS National Meeting which was held in Philadelphia. A marketing campaign was held in conjunction with the meeting. Importantly, the initial development of the journal was a strong collaboration between myself, members of the ACS Publications journal development and marketing groups, and the inaugural advisory board, which included two active Editors-in-Chief of companion ACS journals. This group had a strong influence on the initial direction of the journal.
In the ensuing two years, we have added four Associate Editors, each of whom brings expertise in different areas of applied materials and interfaces, as well as broadening the size and scope of the advisory board. Continued editorial development includes the publication of specific feature articles (Spotlight on Applications) authored by experts in the field, as well as collections of articles in fast-moving areas (Forums).
What historical factors have contributed to the success of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces?
The ACS Publications suite of physical and materials journals historically has strength and focus in fundamental research in science and related engineering fields. For example, Langmuir is the leading physical chemistry journal in fundamental colloid and interface science. Chemistry of Materials and Macromolecules are the leading journals in fundamental materials chemistry and macromolecular science, respectively. Each of these titles boasts a large author and reader base with broad interests; ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is able to build on this strong author and reader base by bringing the focus on applications-oriented materials and interfaces research to the forefront.
In addition, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces has benefitted from strong support by and active collaboration with the editors at the companion ACS journals, including a collaboration on one of the first "cross-journal" virtual specials published by ACS Publications (see: Photovoltaic Materials Virtual Special Issue.)
Have there been specific developments in the fields served by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces that may have contributed?
In a broad sense, the success of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is tied to the increased value which our society is placing on goal- or application-oriented research. In particular, during the past 20 years there has been a shift in emphasis in science and engineering programs at academic and government laboratories which has begun to place more value on applications-oriented research. This shift has been driven by changes in our society and economy, which in turn have driven shifts in the way research is funded.
"ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is the first journal within the ACS Publications suite of physical and materials science journals to be focused primarily on applications-based research."
Turning to more specific areas of science and engineering that are currently of interest in the journal, it is evident that the very fast-moving field of optoelectronic applications of organic and hybrid materials is well-represented and is partially responsible for the rapid growth in citations. In addition, development of novel materials for application in interfacial adhesion or wettability is finding strong interest in the journal.
What, in your view, is this journal's main significance or contribution in the field of Materials Science?
Clearly, we see the focus on application oriented materials/interfaces research as the theme of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and this is where the impact and significance of the journal lies. We see ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces as an opportunity to guide the field through emphasis on emerging and exciting areas, by publishing feature articles and collections of articles that are at the leading edge of application-oriented materials science research.
How do you see your field(s) evolving in the next few years?
During the past 20 years there have been significant advances in our ability to synthesize and characterize complex, advanced materials and interfaces. Many of these advances are in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, but the advances in the ability to synthesize and characterize complex organic, hybrid and composite materials are significant as well. We believe that the next big advances in this broad area of materials will focus on how these advances in synthesis and characterization of complex materials/interfaces can be harnessed to develop novel applications, ultimately leading to new technology.
What role do you see for your journal?
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is clearly positioned well to serve as the leading high-impact/high quality peer-reviewed journal in the area of applications-oriented materials and interfaces research. The journal clearly will benefit as the field of applications driven materials/interfaces research continues to grow in the science and engineering communities.
ACS Applied Materials &
Interfaces
Kirk Schanze, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief
American Chemical Society, publishers
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES'S MOST CURRENT MOST-CITED PAPER IN ESSENTIAL SCIENCE INDICATORS:
Tokarev I, et al., "Stimuli-responsive hydrogel membranes coupled with biocatalytic processes," ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 1(3): 532-6, March 2009 with 34 cites. Source: Essential Science Indicators from Clarivate.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- The journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces has been named a Rising Star in the field of Materials Science in twice this year, in May and in July.
KEYWORDS: MATERIALS, INTERFACES, APPLICATIONS-ORIENTED RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, PEER REVIEW, HIGH IMPACT, EDITORS, ADVISORY BOARD, ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS, HYBRID SOLAR CELLS, ORGANIC ELECTRONICS, BIOELECTRONICS, BIOMATERIALS, EDITORIAL DEVELOPMENT, ACS JOURNALS, OPTOELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS, INTERFACIAL ADHESION, WETTABLITY, COMPOSITE MATERIALS.