2. Is a further increase in the number of scientific journals compatible with their utility? Colloque Evolution des publications scientifiques Académie des sciences, 14-15 mai 2007 Pierre Braunstein Académie des sciences Institut de Chimie (UMR 7177 CNRS) Université Louis Pasteur - Strasbourg

3. Why and how do new journals get launched? convergent interests of a publisher (learned society vs. commercial) and a scientific community (thematic identity, international cohesion, significance, funding ….): bottom-up approach?

4. Why and how do new journals get launched? a new journal should/can provide: a scientific forum for emerging topics, for multidisciplinarity at interfaces, better visibility and identity, … a geographic awareness (no longer at the level of a country but of a continent) this explains the rare exemples of merging of historical national journals

5. Why and how do new journals get launched? a new journal should/can provide: a scientific forum for emerging topics, for multidisciplinarity at interfaces, better visibility and identity, … a geographic awareness (no longer at the level of a country but of a continent) this explains the rare exemples of merging of historical national journals CAVEAT: a scientific community should not become isolated because of its own publication media/practices since nobody can find the time to read all the journals, sometimes even those considered relevant.

6. Main functions of a publication Communicate new scientific knowledge Claim scientific paternity Allows wide diffusion Accounts for the funding received Facilitates evaluation and recognition Archive function and filing see V. Cohoner, F. Dal’Bo, L. Zweig, Gazette des Mathématiciens, 2007, 111, 60

7. YES All these functions can be fullfilled by electronic journals Time to publication can be shortened vs. hard copies journals, although huge improvements have been made by some publishers during the last few years. The rate determining step often rests with the necessary refereeing procedures. Search engines can find an article even from a journal not readily available BUT Is time to publication always a big issue? Costs should be reduced, but how long for? Archive function becomes a real issue Too many journals may have a dilution effect of what is really significant With electronic versions only, you tend to find only what you look for. Who hasn’t experienced the pleasure/use of browsing a paper issue « fresh from the press »?