Journal of Photopolymer
Science and Technology
Featured Journal Interview
According to a recent analysis of
Essential Science IndicatorsSM data
from
Thomson
Reuters, the Journal of Photopolymer
Science and Technology (JPST) entered the database in
the field of Chemistry with the highest cite count among
new entrants.
JPST published its first issue in 1988. The journal is
published by the Conference of Photopolymer Science and
Technology (CPST). Dr. Minoru Tsuda, Professor of Physical
Chemistry, Emeritus, Chiba University, and Dr. Kenichiro
Nakamura of the Department of Optical and Imaging Science
& Technology of Tokai University are
Editors-in-Chief.
In this interview, ScienceWatch.com talks with Drs.
Tsuda and Nakamura about the journal's citation achievements.
Did you expect the Journal of
Photopolymer Science and Technology
(JPST)to become highly
cited, or is this surprising to you?
It is a great honor for the journal to be given a high citation
record. The purpose of JPST is to be the worldwide international
publication forum for scientists and engineers in the field of photopolymer
science and technology. The editors believe that the high citation record
proves the support from the photopolymer community to the forum.
How would you account for the increased citation
rate of JPST?
Since the invention of the planar transistor in 1960, the photopolymers
have been the hidden main player in the production of the micro-electronic
devices such as integrated circuits, large-scale integration, etc.
"Photopolymers have been well-known to be the most
successful among many kinds of functional polymers, because
of the great importance of semi-conductor devices for
mankind."
Before 1988, the year of the start of JPST, the scientific and
technical papers of photopolymer science and technology had been scattered
into many scientific journals, occupying a very small part in the sea of
the main field papers of each academic society. JPST collected
those hidden papers of photopolymer science and technology in one journal
and clearly showed their scientific and technological importance.
Was there a change in policy or editorial
direction that might account for this?
We did not make any special changes. The CPST, the publisher of
JPST, has a committee, the members of which are professional
scientists of photopolymers. They invite active authors in new frontiers of
photopolymer science and technology all over the world to JPST
every year.
What historical factors have contributed to the
success of JPST?
The journal has a 22-year history. JPST might not have been in the
Essential Science Indicators rankings during the initial 15 years
or so. The journal may not get the top citation ranking this year. It has
been, however, well-known that review papers on photopolymers from
JPST are heavily cited.
Have there been specific developments in the
fields served by JPST that may have contributed?
Photopolymers have been well-known to be the most successful among many
kinds of functional polymers, because of the great importance of
semi-conductor devices for mankind. For this reason, the journal has
covered mainly the field of micro-lithography.
This is a progressive field—every year we are expanding to new areas,
such as electronics and computer technology.
What, in your view, is this journal's main
significance or contribution in the field of Chemistry?
Chemistry for advanced photopolymer science, advanced photopolymers and
their applications, advanced materials for nano-patterning, photofunctional
materials for electronic devices, functional polyimide and heat stable
polymers, plasma-functionalization of polymer surfaces, etc. Fine chemistry
and sophisticated chemistry are the big draws to our journal.
How do you see your field(s) evolving in the next
few years?
EUV-lithography, nanoimprint-lithography, biological applications of photo-
and plasma- functionalized polymer surfaces, nanotechnology and
micromachining, and sophisticated photopolymers are going to be important
topics to both the field and our journal.
Journal of Photopolymer Science and
Technology Minoru Tsuda, Editor-in-Chief & Founding
Editor and Kenichiro Nakamura, Editor-in-Chief
The Conference of Photopolymer Science and Technology (CPST),
publishers
Additional information:
Journal of Photopolymer Science and Technology was a New
Entrant in Chemistry for the month of
December 2009.