Australasian Biotechnology (backfiles) AusBiotech ISSN: 1036-7128 Vol. 10, Num. 1, 2000, pp. 2

Australasian Biotechnology, Vol. 10 No. 1, 2000, pp. 2

FROM THE EDITOR - LAUNCH OF THE NEW ERA FOR Australasian Biotechnology

Martin Playne, Editor

Code Number: au00002

We are proud to launch the first issue of the year 2000 with our new publishers, Hallmark Editions. Peter and Rosalind Stirling, of Hallmark Editions, have an excellent record in the production and publication of some leading technical and R&D newsletters, journals and magazines. We are looking at the period ahead as one where our now well-established journal will take a quantum step forward.

The Australian Biotechnology Association (ABA) has been in publishing since 1986 - first with our own newsletter, the ABA Bulletin, and then in conjunction with CSIRO, with Australian Biotech News for a short period.

An Adelaide publishing house, Australian Industrial Publishers, published a journal, Australian Journal of Biotechnology, on behalf of the ABA from 1987 until 1991. This was published in parallel with the newsletter, ABA Bulletin.

In 1991, it was decided to cease publication of both the newsletter and the journal, and to merge them into one. This was done and the ABA decided to launch Australasian Biotechnology and publish it "in house". This was a brave step for a small association of less than a thousand members, but it has been a very successful one.

Australasian Biotechnology has been published bi-monthly as a 64-page journal for nine years. Its standards of presentation and content have equalled those of many professionally- published international journals. However, because of its small base and its dependence on voluntary labour, it has been difficult to obtain enough advertising content, and to market it and raise its profile beyond the immediate membership of the ABA.

Our concept for the journal in 1991 was to cover biotechnology activities in Australia and New Zealand and in South East Asia. This regional coverage has proved elusive and has been patchy, although many of our New Zealand colleagues have been strong supporters of, and contributors to the journal.

During the period 1991 to about 1998, we published regularly about 4 scientific research articles per issue, the occasional business article, some regulatory news, regional news and a limited amount of general news. This pattern is now being changed with a greater emphasis being put on business news and information and general news, and a more readable magazine style of presentation is being developed.

Our new venture with Hallmark Editions should strengthen this new direction. The ABA, however, will still retain editorial control of the publication. I, therefore, seek the support of all authors and contributors, and importantly, advertisers, in making this new revitalised approach really work.

We do, of course, always appreciate comment from readers on the style and content and usefulness of the journal, however harsh those comments might be.

Copyright 2000 - Australasian Biotechnology