Angewandte Chemie Launches Scientific Perspectives and Viewpoint Articles

The past years have seen waves of societal change worldwide and increasing recognition that the sea of humanity consists of individual droplets—each of value and with valid perspectives. The scientific community has realized that strength lies exactly in this diversity, and that mutual respect and open communication are essential for progress. Although many face-to-face interactions have not been possible this past year, dialogue, networks, and collaborations remain vital for researchers.

During this time, the editorial team—with the guidance of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the journal's International Advisory Board¹ and Scientific Advisory Committee²—has considered how Angewandte Chemie can continue to support scientists and contribute to international scientific discourse. Angewandte Chemie, the flagship journal of the GDCh, is widely read. With such reach comes an opportunity and a responsibility to engage with the challenges faced by the community.

Indeed, the journal has a tradition of listening and mediating discussions by publishing insightful opinion pieces, previously in the form of Essays, Viewpoints, and Guest Editorials. The journal wants to continue this tradition with greater emphasis on constructive dialogue across an even wider cross-section of voices. With this aspiration in mind, the editorial team assembled a dedicated working group (the authors of this Editorial) who, with the support of the journal's governing boards, set out to redefine and formalize the format of opinion pieces published by the journal. After reviewing our current article portfolio, we decided to replace Essays and Viewpoints with two new article types that better serve the needs of the community: Scientific Perspectives and Viewpoint Articles.

Analytical techniques and tools are evolving rapidly to deliver ever greater insight into chemical systems, such that it can be challenging to keep up with the best practices in a field. We want to provide a resource that sustains chemical researchers throughout their careers; thus, Angewandte Chemie has created the “Scientific Perspective” (see info. box) so that researchers can confidently refer to the leading advice available in their discipline as they strive to do their best work.

Simultaneously, the editorial team is mindful of the considerable social challenges faced by the chemical community, and we feel that more can be done to raise awareness about the experiences of researchers, as individuals and as groups, wherever they may be in the world. It is our hope that, with the launch of the “Viewpoint Article” (see info. box), readers will gain insight into cultural and social issues that affect our community.

Scientific Perspectives are written by experts and outline contemporary scientific best practice in the chemical sciences. They distill constructive insights and advice on concepts, techniques, and phenomena, as well as emerging practices, topics, and themes that are of importance to chemical researchers. Such articles aspire to become references of lasting benefit to the chemical community. Scientific Perspectives are founded on experimental and/or theoretical evidence, which is endorsed by leaders in the discipline or field of the article.

Viewpoint Articles are carefully considered, opinion-based contributions on topics relevant to the culture of the chemical community not directly related to scientific research. Articles may address (but are not limited to) topics such as the role and responsibilities of chemists in society; diversity, equity, and inclusion in science; energy, environment, and sustainable development; recognition mechanisms and their influence (funding, prizes etc.); and modern science communication and outreach programs.

Scientific Perspectives and Viewpoint Articles will primarily be invited contributions, and the editorial office will work in close collaboration with the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the International Advisory Board (IAB), as representatives of the wider community, to select relevant topics and engage proactively with potential authors. Proposals for suitable topics that have not been invited may, nonetheless, be sent to the editorial office for consideration. Viewpoint Articles are works of constructive opinion; they share knowledge and experience that is relevant and beneficial to the community of chemists. For this reason, the editorial office will devote particular attention to the development of this type of content in a manner that is in keeping with the journal's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity.

Opinion pieces published in our journal will be subjected to the same evaluation standards as chemical research. Like all contributions, Scientific Perspectives and Viewpoint Articles will undergo internal evaluation by an in-house editorial team—all with (post)doctoral experience in chemical research—before a decision can be made to send manuscripts for external peer review by specialists in the field. Experts in chemistry will evaluate Scientific Perspectives, while the editorial office will continue expanding its reviewer pool for Viewpoint Articles to include additional scholars from the humanities and social sciences. In some cases, individuals or groups outside those directly involved with chemical research institutes or industry may be invited to contribute when they are uniquely positioned, through experience, to comment on topics that concern and impact the scientific community. We see this as an important and necessary step to ensure that such articles are evaluated insightfully.

Currently, the chemical community is dealing with unprecedented challenges and rapid change across all levels of the human experience: social, political, and environmental. With these two new article types, Scientific Perspectives and Viewpoint Articles, Angewandte Chemie is striving to support chemists in a more nuanced and inclusive way than what is typically provided by traditional scholarly publishing. The editorial team is tremendously excited to embark on this new chapter of the journal's development. We are looking forward to new modes of engagement with the research community and playing our part to support constructive dialogue that raises awareness and deepens understanding.