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History
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New face of the Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences
Since the birth of modern Academies in the 17th century, members of the Academies have published their findings in the Academies’ publications. The celebrated Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Comptes Rendues of the French Academy, and Rendicorti del Lincei are well-known examples. The quality requirements set up by early scientific periodicals are now basic rules for all top-level specific journals and the publication is not a privilege of members but a demand for all researchers. But the world is changing. In the modern world of science, peer-review is a must; the need for fast communication has resulted in electronic journals, which have enriched the presentation of research results. Academies have changed during the centuries, but their role in fostering excellence in research, and preserving and disseminating knowledge is becoming even stronger. That is why proceedings of Academies have retained their role, reflecting on the one hand traditions, but on the other, bringing in new ideas at the frontier of science. In some sense, proceedings are the trademark for an Academy.
The Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences was first published in 1952 in one volume, from 1955 on in three separate series. Later, some more series were added. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the structure of periodicals has enhanced constantly. The first important step was a radical change concerning the series Humanities and Social Sciences. In 1997, this series and Acta et Commentationes Universitatis Tartuensis B (published since 1893) merged into one journal, Trames.
In 2007 and 2008, several series of the Proceedings were restructured under new names: Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences, Estonian Journal of Engineering, and Estonian Journal of Ecology. All these journals bear the logo of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and are published jointly with the leading public universities of Estonia.
From 2008 on, the Proceedings will be the only journal published under the definite name of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. The Board of the Academy has decided that it will be a multidisciplinary journal with a focus on sciences, but other high-quality papers are not excluded either. It goes without saying that strict peerreview must guarantee the quality of the journal. The journal is open not only to Estonian researchers but to researchers from all over the world. We encourage especially the publication of papers on joint studies with Estonian counterparts. Special thematic issues of the Proceedings will reflect the results of conferences organized either in Estonia or with strong support of Estonian institutions. These issues certainly undergo the usual peer-review like other submitted papers.
It is a challenge to follow the path of more than 50 years from the first issues of the Proceedings. This path was not an easy one, but the free spirit of inquiries has always been a thread for the Estonian Academy of Sciences. So, on the one hand the trademark of the Estonian Academy of Sciences brings focus to the Estonian scientific community as a part of the world of learning, but on the other hand the Proceedings follow the ideas of international journals.
On behalf of the Estonian Academy of Sciences I welcome warmly the present and future authors. It is in your hands to make the Proceedings a dynamic and well-cited journal.
Jüri Engelbrecht
Vice-President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences
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Current Issue:
Vol. 61, Issue 1, 2012
Publishing schedule:
No. 1: 20 March No. 2: 20 June No. 3: 20 September No. 4: 20 December
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