World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 6, 3-5
Editorial
In service to microbiology worldwide
Colin Ratledge and Edgar DaSilva
Another new Journal? Not really; though admittedly this is a new Journal title. The World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology has grown out of the pioneering MIRCEN Journal of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; this latter journal was one of the first (perhaps even the first) in the biological arena with the expressed intention of providing a means by which scientists from the developing countries could publish the results of their research in a genuinely international journal. The standard set during the first five years of the MIRCEN Journal was high; gratifyingly so, both for UNESCO, the originator of the concept, and Oxford University Press, who had undertaken to provide the necessary publishing and distribution machinery to get the Journal underway. With the need for this type of publication having been firmly established (the MIRCEN Journal received papers from over 60 countries in the first five years of its existence!) it became only too evident that scientists worldwide have been increasingly concerned with the needs and requirements of developing countries. Microbiology and biotechnology can help in significant ways in many countries, developed and developing, that have hit world headlines due to famines and floods and other tribulations which they have suffered. They can also help in countries where resources - either of materials or skilled manpower - are in short supply. The problems of these countries are, to some extent, the problems of us all; the concept of the world as a global village is with us. We should no longer think of developed and developing countries: we all are essentially facing up to the same problems. The only difference is one of degree. Now, more than ever, we need to pool our resources. We have to communicate and share our concern for those common problems. Thus the time is now opportune to expand the MIRCEN Journal into a wider world context, but, of course, without compromising its original objectives and scope for the development of microbiology and the biotechnologies in the non-industrialized countries. T o these ends the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS), who coordinate microbiological activities throughout the entire world, has given its fullest support and cooperation. The association between U N E S C O and IUMS is a long-standing one. Since its inception in 1946, UNESCO has carried out several activities in close
3
C. Ratledge and E. DaSilva association with IUMS itself or with a number of its constituent bodies such as the International Committees on Economic and Applied Microbiology (ICEAM), Microbial Ecology (ICOME), Food Microbiology and Hygiene (ICFMH) and Federations such as the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC). These activities have ranged from the provision of research grants to the organization of training courses and conferences. A great many of them have been either an integral part of, or allied to, the UNESCO network of microbial resources centres (MIRCENs). An extract of a statement made by IUMS in 1983 bears testimony to this close relationship: "The International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) has conveyed to UNESCO its continued support for the World Data Centre as it is aware that the centre plays an invaluable role in the field of culture collections which are central to teaching and research in microbiology and to its industrial applications in the developed and developing nations. The reports of the extensive programme of work carried out by the MIRCEN network are a tribute to the important contribution which UNESCO makes to the development of microbiology in developing countries. IUMS is deeply appreciative of this work and . . . will be looking at ways in which it can contribute to the programme.". Close cooperation between U N E S C O and IUMS is unique and will be the biggest single force to help improve communications between microbiologists and biotechnologists on a worldwide basis. This cooperation has received further impetus in the Journal finding a new publisher in Rapid Communications of Oxford, which is part of the worldwide publishing operations of the Thomson Corporation. We are delighted to say that our new publishers have completely accepted the challenge of producing the first truly worldwide journal for microbiology in all its aspects: their enthusiasm for this project has led them to develop this new style and format which you see before you. The combination of a new publisher with the joint experience of U N E S C O and IUMS will, we believe, produce a Journal that can be focussed towards the real problems and issues facing the planet today. We now have a firm basis for establishing a means of fast communication between microbiologists of all nations. As educational matters are also of prime concern in many countries, we have decided that the World Journal will also provide a forum for exchange of views, ideas and even the practicalities of teaching microbiology and biotechnology in different situations and locations. We hope this initiative will find favour with our many readers. The World Journal will continue to serve as the outlet for communicating the research experiences and results of the U N E S C O network of Microbial Resources Centres (MIRCENs) which has truly global dimensions (Appendix I). Building on this co-operation, U N E S C O hopes to attract other professional non-governmental organizations, be they regional or international in scope, to join with it in bringing the benefits of microbiology and its allied biotechnologies to all countries and their peoples. We hope that microbiologists and biotechnologists worldwide, who recognize that they are all striving for the common good and who need to attract the widest readership for their own research, will find this the principal journal for their publications. We also hope that many more scientists will read the Journal to become aware of the advances that are being made in other countries which could have a direct bearing on their own problems. Our remit therefore is to provide a forum for microbiologists and biotechnologists of all countries with emphasis on the major environmental and social issues of today.
4
Editorial
In service to microbiology worldwide
Colin Ratledge and Edgar DaSilva
Another new Journal? Not really; though admittedly this is a new Journal title. The World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology has grown out of the pioneering MIRCEN Journal of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; this latter journal was one of the first (perhaps even the first) in the biological arena with the expressed intention of providing a means by which scientists from the developing countries could publish the results of their research in a genuinely international journal. The standard set during the first five years of the MIRCEN Journal was high; gratifyingly so, both for UNESCO, the originator of the concept, and Oxford University Press, who had undertaken to provide the necessary publishing and distribution machinery to get the Journal underway. With the need for this type of publication having been firmly established (the MIRCEN Journal received papers from over 60 countries in the first five years of its existence!) it became only too evident that scientists worldwide have been increasingly concerned with the needs and requirements of developing countries. Microbiology and biotechnology can help in significant ways in many countries, developed and developing, that have hit world headlines due to famines and floods and other tribulations which they have suffered. They can also help in countries where resources - either of materials or skilled manpower - are in short supply. The problems of these countries are, to some extent, the problems of us all; the concept of the world as a global village is with us. We should no longer think of developed and developing countries: we all are essentially facing up to the same problems. The only difference is one of degree. Now, more than ever, we need to pool our resources. We have to communicate and share our concern for those common problems. Thus the time is now opportune to expand the MIRCEN Journal into a wider world context, but, of course, without compromising its original objectives and scope for the development of microbiology and the biotechnologies in the non-industrialized countries. T o these ends the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS), who coordinate microbiological activities throughout the entire world, has given its fullest support and cooperation. The association between U N E S C O and IUMS is a long-standing one. Since its inception in 1946, UNESCO has carried out several activities in close
3
C. Ratledge and E. DaSilva association with IUMS itself or with a number of its constituent bodies such as the International Committees on Economic and Applied Microbiology (ICEAM), Microbial Ecology (ICOME), Food Microbiology and Hygiene (ICFMH) and Federations such as the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC). These activities have ranged from the provision of research grants to the organization of training courses and conferences. A great many of them have been either an integral part of, or allied to, the UNESCO network of microbial resources centres (MIRCENs). An extract of a statement made by IUMS in 1983 bears testimony to this close relationship: "The International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) has conveyed to UNESCO its continued support for the World Data Centre as it is aware that the centre plays an invaluable role in the field of culture collections which are central to teaching and research in microbiology and to its industrial applications in the developed and developing nations. The reports of the extensive programme of work carried out by the MIRCEN network are a tribute to the important contribution which UNESCO makes to the development of microbiology in developing countries. IUMS is deeply appreciative of this work and . . . will be looking at ways in which it can contribute to the programme.". Close cooperation between U N E S C O and IUMS is unique and will be the biggest single force to help improve communications between microbiologists and biotechnologists on a worldwide basis. This cooperation has received further impetus in the Journal finding a new publisher in Rapid Communications of Oxford, which is part of the worldwide publishing operations of the Thomson Corporation. We are delighted to say that our new publishers have completely accepted the challenge of producing the first truly worldwide journal for microbiology in all its aspects: their enthusiasm for this project has led them to develop this new style and format which you see before you. The combination of a new publisher with the joint experience of U N E S C O and IUMS will, we believe, produce a Journal that can be focussed towards the real problems and issues facing the planet today. We now have a firm basis for establishing a means of fast communication between microbiologists of all nations. As educational matters are also of prime concern in many countries, we have decided that the World Journal will also provide a forum for exchange of views, ideas and even the practicalities of teaching microbiology and biotechnology in different situations and locations. We hope this initiative will find favour with our many readers. The World Journal will continue to serve as the outlet for communicating the research experiences and results of the U N E S C O network of Microbial Resources Centres (MIRCENs) which has truly global dimensions (Appendix I). Building on this co-operation, U N E S C O hopes to attract other professional non-governmental organizations, be they regional or international in scope, to join with it in bringing the benefits of microbiology and its allied biotechnologies to all countries and their peoples. We hope that microbiologists and biotechnologists worldwide, who recognize that they are all striving for the common good and who need to attract the widest readership for their own research, will find this the principal journal for their publications. We also hope that many more scientists will read the Journal to become aware of the advances that are being made in other countries which could have a direct bearing on their own problems. Our remit therefore is to provide a forum for microbiologists and biotechnologists of all countries with emphasis on the major environmental and social issues of today.
4
