Editorial

Abstract

Our younger readers may not know, but it was not so long ago that the arrival of the monthly issues of Helvetica Chimica Acta (HCA) were eagerly awaited and read cover-to-cover by chemists worldwide. It held a special place among the ‘must-read’ journals of the 20th century and the venue of choice for top publications – from authors not only working in Switzerland in particular but also worldwide. Your editors – although still young by some standards – still remember reading freshly open paper copies of HCA as graduate students in the 1990s in Pasadena and West Lafayette. With the rapid increase in the number of publications and journals in the 21st century, many legacy journals, such as HCA have struggled to find a unique identity. In the view of too many chemists, HCA went from being a venue for latest discoveries in the chemical sciences to just one more journal. But for many of us, there will also be a special place in our hearts for Helvetica Chimica Acta. When we were asked by the Swiss Chemical Society to take on the editorship of the journal, we elected to ‘relaunch’ it by returning to its roots: high quality, full papers that tell stories about cutting edge molecular science. In other words, not only the details but also the why and the how. With the full support of the Swiss Chemical Society, our publisher Wiley, and the talented and diverse researchers working across Switzerland, we are delighted to bring you the first issue of the relaunch Helvetica: A Journal of the Swiss Chemical Society. We hope it will be the first of many issues that restores the vision of the founders – 99 years ago – to be a journal one can trust, not only for its data but also for a commitment to recognizing and inspiring excellence. Switzerland has based its reputation not only on accuracy, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and flexibility, but also on humility and open-mindedness. The progress in science and technology relies on these qualities, and Helvetica will provide a medium to report accurate data and be a forum to discuss chemistry across all fields. Through its strong and diverse chemical industry, its forefront academic research and teaching program and its ties to international networks, Switzerland is ideally placed to be a leader in the conduct of innovative, responsible 21st century science. We see in Helvetica the opportunity to build on its foundations as one of the primary delegates of modern chemistry to become an ambassador for molecular science in a changing world. Science is evolving very fast, facing many challenges including the increasing amount of reported data. Chemistry is moving toward more complex systems, where molecular understanding can play a central role in generating function by design. It is by essence a multidisciplinary science at the leading edge of biology, physics, and material and engineering sciences; it bridges the world of inorganic and organic matters, it relates to single atoms/molecules or much larger assemblies (polymers, assemblies and solids), it requires to understand physical phenomena and to develop new analytical/physical techniques. We welcome papers that blur the boundaries between disciplines and divisions, as well as detailed studies in traditional areas that contribute to our fundamental understanding of science and nature. The relaunch of Helvetica brings many changes to the journal – a new editorial board, a distinguished international advisory panel, a new submission and reviewing system, shorter publication times, a new layout, full free color, and a dedicated editorial staff based in Zurich. It brings a renewed committed of the Swiss Chemical Society, Wiley, and our authors to make it a highly visible and respected place to our best work. And most importantly, it brings a focus on high quality full papers – not too many, not too few – just the right amount to make reading Helvetica once again a highlight of our month. We rely on you to make this adventure a success and we look forward to your contribution in the coming months and years.