19 Jan 2012
After 21 years Pest Management Science editor-in-chief Gerry Brooks is to hand the reins over to long-serving executive editor Steve Duke.
How did you decide you
wanted a career in science?
I had very good science teachers at
school. I just had to succeed, as it
would be unimaginable to let them
down! Though I did spend time in railway signal boxes in
the great days of steam, instead of doing my homework,
and so acquired a taste for technology.
What have been the major milestones
in your career?
The first was undoubtedly my attendance at a
postgraduate college lecture on DDT. This led me
into a somewhat non-traditional chemistry career
and contact internationally with highly-talented
people from many scientific disciplines. I solved a
couple of problems that had eluded others which
led to involvement with WHO, FAO, IAEA amongst
others.
More a culmination than a milestone, I became the fifth UK scientist to receive the American Chemical Society International Award for Research in Agrochemicals in 2007.
What have you enjoyed most
about being involved with Pest
Management Science over the
last 21 years?
I was on the editorial board of Pesticide Science (PS) from the 1970s until the title was changed
to Pest Management Science (PMSci) in 2000,
and EIC through all developments since 1990.
It's been fascinating and enjoyable to witness the
remarkable advances in all aspects of relevant
science during the last 40 years and the journal
affords an ideal way to keep in touch with both
the science and international colleagues.
What have been the biggest challenges
whilst you've been editor-in-chief?
One has to make fairly quick judgements about the
relevance of manuscript submissions, especially as
the submission rate has increased in recent years,
along with the ever-broadening subject scope
of the journal since the title change.
Instinctive diplomatic skills are essential in interacting with editorial board members and in occasional troubleshooting involving referees and authors. Not surprisingly perhaps, every scientist believes theirs is the only work deserving attention, which occasionally causes problems!
How has the practice of journal
publishing changed since 1990?
Before 2003, when Manuscript Central [now
called Scholar One Manuscripts] was introduced,
manuscripts were handled by post. This was a vast
improvement. Scientists want their work in print
as quickly as possible so Early View, the online
service, was a valuable advance.
How has science changed in that time?
The great changes from the 1960s onwards are
evident in the Proceedings of the four-yearly,
IUPAC International Congresses of Pesticide
Chemistry. In particular, one may cite the
application of the techniques of molecular
biology in the elucidation of mechanisms of
pesticide resistance.
Despite being the bane of pesticide innovators, the resistance problem has driven fascinating advances in biochemistry and has forced chemists to make remarkable advances to keep ahead of nature but with one eye on protecting the environment. Sadly, the complex science now involved seems impossible to explain simply to the public, who see only the downside of crop and health protection and remain suspicious of scientists' motives.
What challenges and opportunities
lie ahead?
The challenges outlined above will remain and
PMSci will continue to publish the advances as
they arise. It often seems that those with the vital
task of devising new bioactive agents receive
less recognition than is given to those involved
in environmental issues, important though these
are. Of great promise is the marked increase in
the submission of good work from the Asia-
Pacific area; every effort will continue to be made
to attract authors from this area and from the
southern hemisphere.
How can others become involved with
the journal and what is the benefit?
Scientists who can act as expert referees will
always be welcome, especially as the submissions
we receive now often involve more than one
discipline. We put an annual acknowledgement to referees in the journal and it may be
advantageous for one's CV to be listed as an
editorial or executive editorial board member.
The journal content will attract expert readers in
relevant fields and stimulate them to contribute
their work. In a promotional context, spotlights,
perspectives and reviews may attract wider
attention than the detailed research reports.
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