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From the Editors' Desks August 2009; 35(3) 65 European Science Editing Publications Committee 2006–2009 Chief editor From the Editors’ Desks Moira Johnson [email protected] Production manager Membership Rates for 2010 opportunities, but also for some Margaret Cooter In the light of the global financial sightseeing and conviviality. [email protected] situation, Council have decided Secretary once again not to raise next year’s EASE Secretary Sheila Evered [email protected] membership subscription rates or the Due to various pressures on her time, European Science Editing cost of the Handbook or subscription it is with great reluctance that Sheila Articles to European Science Editing. Details has decided to relinquish some or Stuart Handysides [email protected] of the rates can be found on the all of her duties as EASE Secretary All original articles will be peer reviewed website. after the conference in Pisa in Essays in editing September, though she will of course Marcin Kozak Annual General Meeting be around afterwards to ensure a [email protected] The next AGM will be held at the smooth handover to her successor. Editing around the world Dario Sambunjak Palazzo dei Congressi in Pisa on Consequently, applications are invited [email protected] Wednesday 16 September. Papers for this post from members who have Viewpoints, Correspondence,Book reviews for it will be circulated in July by some time to spare and would like to Moira Johnson email. If you receive them through contribute to the further development [email protected] the post, it means we do not have an of EASE. Please see the box on page Reports of meetings Sharon Davies email address for you. This may be 96 for further details. [email protected] by choice, but if not, please could you EASE-Forum digest send it to [email protected]. It Rising rating Elise Langdon-Neuner will help reduce postal costs! European Science Editing’s ICV rating [email protected] with Index Copernicus International This site I like Moira Johnson Last call for Pisa at the end of 2008 was 3.39, compared [email protected] As this issue goes to press, final with 3.08 at the end of 2007. News notes preparations for EASE’s 10th triennial Richard Hurley conference are being made. We’re able Contributions for next issue [email protected] to bring you some colour photographs The copy date for the November Editor’s bookshelf Paola De Castro (coordinator) of the ancient city of Pisa – even of issue is 15 September. Please send [email protected] the bells in the Leaning Tower – on contributions to the appropriate Production assistance the inside back cover. Hopefully this member of the publications Penny Hubbard will whet your appetite not just for the committee (see the list on the left) by [email protected] conference itself and its networking then. Books (Handbook) Moira Johnson [email protected] Website EASE Council 2006–2009 Emma Campbell [email protected] President: Arjan K S Polderman, Pharmaceutisch Weekblad, PO Box 30460, EASE Council 2500 GL The Hague, The Netherlands; [email protected] Arjan K S Polderman (ex officio) Vice-Presidents: Linus Svensson, Sweden; Joan Marsh, UK Members: Eva Baranyiová, Czech Republic; Alison Clayson, France; Ricardo Contributions for the journal should be Guerrero, Spain; Mare-Anne Laane, Estonia; Volodymyr Lysenko, Ukraine and USA; sent to the Chief Editor or the appropriate section editor listed above. See the Reme Melero, Spain; Mercè Piqueras, Spain; Witold Zuchiewicz, Poland; Instructions to Authors on EASE’s website Moira Johnson, UK (ex officio) (www.ease.org.uk). Past-President: Elisabeth Kessler, Sweden The journal is published in February, May, Treasurer and Company Secretary: Roderick Hunt, UK August and November, free to paid-up Secretary: Sheila Evered, EASE, PO Box 6159, Reading, RG19 9DE, UK; members of EASE and available on annual subscription of £60 to libraries tel +44 (0)118 970 0322; email [email protected] and other non-members. EASE website: www.ease.org.uk Disclaimer: The views expressed Correspondence about EASE and applications for membership (see website) by contributors are their own. The should go to the Secretary. Association does not necessarily endorse the claims of advertisers. To advertise in this journal, or on EASE’s website, please contact: ISSN 0258-3127 John Allardice, 128 Victoria Rise, London, SW4 0NW, UK Printed by Qwerty Ltd, The Markham Telephone: +44 (0)20 7720 2390 Mobile: +44 (0)777 444 4466 Centre, Theale RG7 4PE ©EASE 2009 E-mail: [email protected] European Science Editing 66 August 2009; 35(3) Editorial European Science Editors – recruiting the next generation Dear Sir, membership of EASE over the years by geography and I am applying for the position of editor recently type of membership and briefly mentioned subject, but he advertised in … . didn’t ask: what do we do? Many (most) of us work with Thus began for me, and doubtless for many others, a journals, but even that group covers a range of activities: career in publishing; unforeseen at school, at university and copy editors, production editors, managing editors. Then we grasped at more in desperation than as a strategic decision have freelancers (again covering a range of activities), as well when two years at the bench had finally convinced me that as people working for medical communications agencies, I was not cut out to be a research scientist. I was lucky. The national and international organizations, and at least one only one of those letters that earned a reply led to a fantastic (me) commissioning books. This represents a large fund of job as a science editor with the Ciba Foundation. First, I experience and expertise that we could use, not just to train discovered that I had a natural talent for copy editing. editors but to encourage more young scientists to consider a Secondly, that talent was honed by two very experienced career in science publishing. How do we go about this? editors, Julie Whelan and Maeve O’Connor. Thirdly, Maeve Science careers are discussed and promoted at various introduced me to EASE and thereby the greater community events; one is the Euroscience Open Forum, which is held in of science editors. alternate years. EASE organized two sessions at the last one Two decades later, I find myself mentoring work in Barcelona and has applied to do so again in Turin in 2010. experience students who are studying for masters degrees There are, however, limits to how much the Council and in publishing. They come from around the world to Programme Committee can achieve. Can EASE facilitate universities in London or Oxford, with degrees in the arts its members, as individuals, to do more to raise the profile and “a passion for literature”, to try and improve their CVs of science editing as a career and recruit more people, and thereby their prospects in the job market. Computer preferably scientists, into our ranks. literate, articulate, motivated – most of them are already an The world of publishing is changing rapidly and the role employer’s dream. Yet only one had ever considered a career of the editor with it: basic copy editing may now be done in science publishing: the others cite travel or children’s by computer, other jobs are being outsourced to companies books, and I often feel that our medical books’ team is seen beyond Europe. Some see open access publishing as as the short straw. However, they settle down to preparing obviating the need for any editing, with authors posting their contracts, checking third-party permissions and all the manuscripts directly on the web. Threats or opportunities? “paperwork” associated with publishing books and soon If software leads to copy editors receiving manuscripts with realize that much of the work is the same, whether the book no spelling or grammar mistakes, surely that’s a good thing (or journal) covers family holidays in Sardinia or managing – for the individual and the profession? Editors are then free depression in the elderly. At “entry level”, subject knowledge to concentrate on the content and to apply their skills to the is not essential – although it always helps to have an interest more interesting matters, such as structure, accuracy, and in or understanding of the topic. The crunch comes at the clarity. If content management jobs are moving to countries next level, when one takes responsibility for a journal or where labour is cheaper, should we in Europe focus on publishing programme and needs to liaise with academics, content acquisition and development? If authors want to assess manuscripts in some way, plan for the development of self-publish, should we work with them pre-publication, that publication, etc. It’s at that point that employers notice offering more training in science writing? All of these require the absence of people with scientific backgrounds. editors with knowledge of science as well as of science My question is whether we, as individuals and as an editing – which means we should be encouraging more organization, should be doing something to change this. science graduates and postgraduates to consider editing and Not all science graduates want to be scientists. Some study publishing as a career. science for interest and for basic skills, knowing that they EASE has seen substantial changes in its membership plan to enter business or management. What about those, like since it passed its 25th birthday in 2007, with many of the me, who love science but for various reasons don’t want to original members retiring and new members taking their stay at the bench? Are they aware of the many opportunities places. As an organization, we feel well placed to serve within science editing and publishing? Some societies have the needs of our members over the next few years.
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