Challenges and opportunities for EJN

Dear Colleagues:
Thanks to the superb work by Barry Everitt and Chris Henderson, EJN is an extremely well functioning, international neuroscience journal. The authors and the editors enjoy outstanding support by FENS, on the behalf of which the journal is published, by the publisher, Wiley-Blackwell, and by the Editorial Office (situated in Ely, UK). It will be a challenge to match Barry and Chris’ achievements and their dedication to the journal.

During the last couple of months, we have had the opportunity to discuss EJN with members of the FENS leadership, representatives of the individual national societies and, particularly at the FENS forum in Geneva, with numerous scientists. The message to us is clear. There is a great expectation in the FENS community to see EJN evolving as a premier neuroscience journal and indeed as the flagship neuroscience journal for FENS members. We share these goals and we are strongly encouraged by these expectations.

Several changes have been initiated for EJN. These changes are designed to maintain and enhance the quality of the contributions published in EJN, to make EJN visually more attractive and easier to read, and to foster the communication with the readership of the journal.

Look for the following new features:

· Five separate journal sections (Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience, Synaptic Mechanisms, Neurosystems, Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience).

· Featured Articles, with a brief commentary addressing the significance and the expectedly high impact of these selected articles.

· Technical Spotlights: A new feature aimed at presenting state-of-the-art protocols of new and classical methods and/or to evaluate controversial methodological issues (see Author Instructions for details).

· Regular publication schedule (48 issues per year), with E-TOCS arriving in the mailbox of all subscribers and members of FENS affiliated societies.

· New editorial structure: Associate Editors (5-7 per section) oversee the reviewing of individual manuscripts and suggest decisions; Contributing Editors (around 15 per section) are committed to provide expert reviews for EJN on a regular basis and to contribute in multiple other ways to EJN (concerning Contributing Editors from Europe, many were recruited based on nominations from the FENS national societies).

· New Guidelines for Authors: These guidelines specific the criteria to be met by manuscripts to be considered for publication in EJN (see EJN webpage).

The widespread enthusiasm for EJN is truly inspiring. We are well aware of the importance of enhancing its overall role and impact. EJN will continue to receive a proportionally large number of submissions from non-European countries, consistent with its status as an international journal. However, the substantial growth of neuroscience in Europe and the obvious advantages of having a journal that is THE flagship journal for FENS members represent key underpinnings for furthering the quality and visibility of EJN. Additional measures are designed to bring EJN closer to FENS, such as regular EJN symposia at the biannual FENS Forum, featuring the best research published in EJN during the preceding two years.

Finally, the realization of our ambitions and goals for EJN depends of course on the quality of the submissions. EJN is your journal, and your journal deserves your best manuscripts to grow and enhance its role.

We are looking forward to working with you. Please feel free to contact us anytime if you have any questions or ideas.

Thank you.

Jean-Marc and Martin

fritschy-ejn@pharma.uzh.ch
msarter@umich.edu