Editorial: Made in Germany: 125 Years of Angewandte Chemie

I can still vividly recall how proud I was when, 1 over 18 years ago, one of my articles was chosen to appear on the front cover of Angewandte Chemie. That our article had been accepted for publication in Angewandte Chemie was reason enough to celebrate, and then our own cover picture, a very special honor indeed, and one that then as now, is highly sought after. My Angewandte cover picture from 1995 still has pride of place on my office wall.

It is precisely this combination of the highest quality and continuous innovation that makes Angewandte Chemie what it is. These are the driving forces that, over the past few decades, have carried Angewandte Chemie to its position at the pinnacle of chemistry publishing world wide and kept it there. The high quality, documented in way ways, including the ever increasing impact factor, which has reached another new record high of 13.5, has always made publishing in Angewandte Chemie something special. Innovative ideas, such as the graphical table of contents, or the introduction of cover pictures which give significant articles extra recognition, have made Angewandte Chemie ever more attractive and reinforced its unique status. A status that is apparent in so many ways: Angewandte Chemie is probably the only scientific journal of such standing that not only comes from Germany, but even has a German title, and has established itself on the international stage. Scientists from all over the world want to publish in Angewandte Chemie, most without knowing what the title actually means let alone how it is pronounced! (Angewandte Chemie means applied chemistry, a name that is now something of a misnomer as today Angewandte Chemie publishes articles from all areas of chemistry.) Something else which typifies Angewandte Chemie, it is probably the only significant technical journal that is published in parallel in two languages. For over 50 years there has been an English version as well as the German version. This bilingual approach has been chosen deliberately for cultural and political reasons, to preserve the German language in chemistry, and ensure its development. In 2007 this achievement was honored with the “Kulturpreis Deutsche Sprache” (The German Language Culture Prize). Thus, there is another unique characteristic of Angewandte Chemie, how many other scientific journals can claim to have been awarded a “Culture Prize”?

With all these signs of success, it is no surprise to learn that the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh, German Chemical Society), as the owners of Angewandte Chemie, are very proud of their flagship journal. These 125 years of Angewandte Chemie are being celebrated with a special Jubilee Symposium, the program of which is featured in this particular issue of Angewandte Chemie. Three Nobel Laureates and other prominent speakers, and not just scientists, are taking part, and provide further proof of the uniqueness of the symposium and the cause for celebration.

Angewandte Chemie can look back on a wonderfully successful past. The demands for quality and innovation will also guide it into the future. Thus, in spite of the many challenges is scientific publishing, I have no worries about the Angewandte Chemie in the coming years.1