From chemistry-request-: at :-server.ccl.net Tue Oct 12 15:38:30 1999 Received: from ccl.net (atlantis.ccl.net [192.148.249.4]) by server.ccl.net (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id PAA04876 for ; Tue, 12 Oct 1999 15:38:30 -0400 Received: from cbdcom-emh1.apgea.army.mil (cbdcom-emh1.apgea.army.mil [131.92.10.15]) by ccl.net (8.8.6/8.8.6/OSC 1.1) with ESMTP id PAA27004 for ; Tue, 12 Oct 1999 15:32:53 -0400 (EDT) Received: by cbdcom-emh1.apgea.army.mil with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) id <4T2QC295>; Tue, 12 Oct 1999 15:27:06 -0400 Message-ID: <6E9332894560D211ADA700104B6968EA012EF36D: at :netsvr1> From: "Famini George R Dr. SBCCOM" To: "'chemistry "-at-" ccl.net'" Subject: COMP Association with JMGM Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 15:30:16 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by server.ccl.net id PAA04877 There have been several comments and concerns recently with respect to Don Boyd's recent email posting regarding the American Chemical Society's Division of Computers in Chemistry's relationship with the Elsevier, and in particular, the Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modeling (JMGM), Although I have responded in the past to some concerns, I felt it was important to elucidate precisely what the relationship is regarding JMGM and COMP, as well as the rationale to why the COMP Executive Committee entered into this agreement with Elsevier. The agreement between COMP and JMGM was developed over an 18 month period, concluding about a year ago. It was felt by the COMP Executive Committee that current ACS journals to do not adequately address all of areas of interest of COMP members, and that an association was needed with another journal. Elsevier approached the Executive Committee with an offer for COMP to actively participate in the "rebirth" of the JMGM. Further, the JMGM, through the incorporation of Chemical Design News, would give COMP a mechanism to "advertise" upcoming events, symposia and meetings of interest to COMP members. The actual terms of the agreement provide: 1) a non-exclusive association between COMP and JMGM. This means that JMGM is A journal of COMP, not THE journal. This gives COMP maximum flexibility to develop similar relationships with other journals that may further address the needs of the COMP members. The fact is, however, no other journal as sought to establish the same relationship with us (but more on that below). 2) COMP members receive a substantial discount when subscribing to JMGM. 3) The COMP Executive Board was allowed to select, with Elsevier's concurrence, the North American Editor of JMGM. As a recognition of this tie, the COMP Executive Board has included the North American editor as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Executive Board. I feel this solidifies the relationship between the JMGM and COMP, and really does give us the opportunity to influence how the journal is being run. A case in point recently was the selection of the editor of the Chemical Design Automation and News pages: the COMP Executive Committee was solicited for recommendations. 4) COMP would agree to encourage appropriate papers be published in JMGM. This raised a very lengthy discussion vis-à-vis symposia papers, and where the right spot for publication was: JMGM, JCICS or symposium series books. It was decided that there were ample opportunities that there would not be a detrimental effect on any of the three, and that we were free to recommend publication to the most appropriate journal/book. I feel it is important to note that this arrangement with the JMGM does not entail any financial obligation on COMP's part, nor does it commit COMP to support JMGM exclusive to any other journal/opportunity. During the negotiations and discussions with Elsevier, the Executive Committee felt it was important not to exclude JCICS in the discussions, as they, after all, are and ACS journal. We felt that it was important for JCICS to understand what was being considered between JMGM and COMP, give them an opportunity to express concerns, and more importantly, give them an opportunity to enter into an analogous arrangement. I think it is important at this point to mention that that is no official relationship between JCICS and COMP. JCICS is not in any way associated with COMP, other than the relationship with ACS. As such, JCICS is not an official journal of COMP. However, the Executive Committee does realize that JCICS has attempted to serve the computational chemistry community, but felt that it had neither the readership nor the reputation in computational chemistry to adequately to do so. COMP was not party to an attempt to subvert JCICS to purely computational chemistry. This was an initiative that came out of ACS Pubs. The editor of JCICS felt comfortable with the current relationship between JCICS and COMP (which is to say, none), and with the relationship between JMGM and COMP. For those "naysayers" that claim JCICS does computational chemistry, I should note that my laboratory cancelled their subscription to JCICS because it did not meet our needs in the computational chemistry area. Further, when I have perused journal, I find the number of "information" based papers far outweighing the computational papers. The COMP Executive Committee felt then, and continues to feel, that JCICS does not adequately represent the key areas in which COMP is engaged. Further, JCICS leadership did not feel obligated to include COMP in the process of attempting to do so. For these reasons, we voted for, and approved, the aforementioned relationship with JMGM. However, COMP is willing to consider an analogous relationship with any other journal that feels an "official" relationship with COMP. To restate the advantages of this relationship to COMP members: a) Reduced prices for an important journal in computational chemistry b) Ability for COMP to influence the editorial content to address COMP members' interests c) Excellent venue for publication of members' papers, including full color at no charge d) Increased exposure of COMP symposia and events e) Enhanced international presence of COMP, as JMGM has a worldwide readership Finally, our association with Elsevier was coordinated with ACS, and the contract was concluded only after they raised no objections. I hope this adequately addresses recent concerns. The COMP Executive Board is always willing to discuss this with anyone with legitimate questions. George Famini COMP Division Chair George R. Famini, PhD Chief, International Programs Office ECBC/SBCCOM (410)436-2552 fax: (41)436-5373