The Journal of Micropalaeontology is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year and The Micropalaeontology Society (TMS) is marking this special occasion. TMS started life as a specialist group (British Micropalaeontology Group) of the Geological Society of London in 1970. After some discussion, the Society set up in its own right in 1975 as the British Micropalaeontology Society, with a name change made in 2002 to reflect the society's truly international membership. A milestone in Society history occurred in 1982 with the publication of our own international Journal with Lesley Sheppard as the first editor. The Journal was initially produced once a year, but since 1984 has become a twice yearly publication of growing international repute. There have been 5 editors of the Journal to date and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my predecessors for all their sterling efforts:
Lesley Sheppard 1980–1987
Michael Keen 1987–1994
John Murray 1994–1997
Malcolm Hart 1997–2003
John Gregory 2003–
The Society comprises six specialist groups which study Foraminifera, Microvertebrates, Nannofossils, Ostracods, Palynology and Silicofossils and the Journal welcomes contributions on all aspects of micropalaeontology. The Journal has seen the publication in excess of 500 articles over the last 25 volumes and its scope has always been broad, especially to show the application of microfossils to solving geological problems, with an emphasis on taxonomy. The principal fields of interest are: biostratigraphy; evolution; palaeobiology; palaeoenvironments; reviews and taxonomic studies. The emphasis has been on applications, and our aim is to attract high-quality papers that will prove to be influential in the development of our science.
A summary of articles published over 25 volumes shows the following disciplinary breakdown:
Turning from the past we must look to the future and to the next 25 years of the Journal of Micropalaeontology. Undoubtedly these will be very different, as research advances becoming more multidisciplinary and integrated, reflecting the growing importance and impact of micropalaeontology in global fields such as climate change. To ensure that the Journal is well placed to grow in the future, the 25th anniversary provides the opportunity not only for celebration, but also for some developments aimed at keeping the Journal at the forefront of its field while serving the needs of its authors and readers.
The Internet has had a profound impact on the Society and the Journal and has revolutionized scientific communication and publishing. Some time ago the Committee decided to make articles from the most recent volumes of Journal articles freely available to all paid up members of the Society as pdfs for download. The entire archive run of the Journal (Volumes 1–25) has also been scanned this year, and will be available shortly at www.tmsoc.org. Looking to the next 25 years, TMS is determined to be at the forefront of innovations in publishing to provide effective and efficient publication in the field of micro-palaeontology and I would like the Society to seriously look at introducing full online electronic submission of manuscripts.
To further celebrate this anniversary the Journal will be carrying a review article in Volume 25:2 in which each specialist group of the society will highlight the most significant scientific advances within their discipline over the last 25 years. In addition, later in the year, I will be posting a cumulative index (Volumes 1–25) to the Society's webpage, along with an Endnote database of all articles published.
