SRL: Meaning, Fall Protection, and the Blockchain Angle

Generated Title: SRL's New Deputy: A Numbers Game or Real Change?

The Seismological Research Letters (SRL) has appointed Hongfeng Yang as its first-ever deputy editor-in-chief. Yang, currently a professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, is stepping into this new role after serving as an associate editor for SRL since 2018. It's a noteworthy move, but the real question is: does this appointment signify a substantial shift in the journal's direction, or is it merely a cosmetic change?

The Publishing Landscape: A Crowded Field

Yang himself acknowledges the "increasingly crowded publishing landscape." That's putting it mildly. The number of journals vying for attention, especially in specialized fields like seismology, has exploded. This creates a bottleneck: more papers submitted, but the same pool of qualified reviewers. Yang highlights the challenge of "how to effectively engage and appropriately recognize high-quality reviewers." It's a critical point. Reviewers are the gatekeepers of scientific integrity, and their time is valuable. What incentives will SRL offer to attract and retain top-tier reviewers? Will it be monetary (unlikely, given the academic nature of the journal), or will it involve more symbolic recognition, like enhanced visibility or opportunities for co-authorship? Details on this front are, unfortunately, scarce.

And this is the part of the report that I find genuinely puzzling. The fact that SRL is acknowledging the reviewer problem at all is notable; most journals prefer to pretend everything is fine. But simply acknowledging the problem doesn't solve it. What's the solution? Yang mentions "balancing reviewer motivation, author development and audience expansion." Okay, but how?

Audience Expansion: Beyond the Echo Chamber

Yang also aims to "broaden the journal's readership" and "promote seismology to different fields and the public." This is a noble goal, but seismology, by its nature, is a niche field. How does one make earthquake research appealing to, say, economists or historians? One approach might be to emphasize the interdisciplinary applications of seismological data. For example, seismic monitoring techniques can be used to detect illicit nuclear tests or to assess the stability of infrastructure projects. But these applications require active outreach and collaboration with other disciplines, a strategy that isn't explicitly mentioned.

The press release also mentions Yang's interest in "new observations and methods in seismology, as well as applications of seismic and geophysics methods in fields out of seismology." This suggests a willingness to embrace innovation, which is encouraging. But innovation also carries risks. How will SRL balance the need for rigorous peer review with the desire to publish cutting-edge, potentially controversial research? It's a delicate balancing act.

It's also not clear if Yang’s appointment signals a shift in geographical focus for the journal. Yang’s affiliation with The Chinese University of Hong Kong could lead to increased submissions from Chinese researchers. This isn't inherently a bad thing – scientific progress is a global endeavor – but it could raise questions about potential biases or conflicts of interest. Will SRL implement safeguards to ensure that all submissions are evaluated fairly, regardless of the authors' affiliations or nationalities?

Is This a Seismic Shift, or Just a Tremor?

Yang's appointment as deputy editor-in-chief is undoubtedly a significant event for SRL. SRL welcomes first Deputy Editor-in-Chief. He brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision for the journal's future. But the success of his tenure will depend on his ability to translate his vision into concrete action. Will he be able to attract and retain top-tier reviewers? Will he be able to broaden the journal's readership and promote seismology to a wider audience? And will he be able to navigate the complex ethical challenges of the modern publishing landscape? Only time will tell.

A Wait-and-See Game