The editor-in-chief and associate editors recognize the critical role that the peer review process plays in helping to ensure that published research is accurate, trustworthy, and meets the highest standards of research within the environmental field. Rigorous peer review is vitally important for maintaining the high quality and integrity of the research papers published in the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (JA&WMA). Each year, we invite thousands of scientists from around the world to provide comprehensive reviews on manuscripts submitted to JA&WMA. The peer reviewers listed on pages 2–7 have provided objective and constructive comments in a timely manner, thereby helping to improve the quality of the papers published in 2015. In keeping with JA&WMA’s longstanding tradition, therefore, this issue is dedicated to those peer reviewers for their valuable time and effort in this cause.
In 2013, the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) initiated an outstanding reviewer award. This past year, 16 reviewers were recognized by A&WMA with a certificate of appreciation for their dedication to scientific excellence in reviewing the manuscripts submitted in 2014–2015: Drs. Daniel Contini, Hector Espinos Morato, Timothy Gordon, Sven-Erik Gryning, Steven Hanna, Matti Happonen, Christian Hogrefe, R.K.M. Jayanty, Ajit Kaduwela, Sang-Mi Lee, Hu-Chen Liu, Michael McCarthy, Richard Poirot, Arden Pope, Sonia Samir, and Kenneth Schere. These reviewers provided outstanding reviews on multiple manuscripts in a very timely manner. Indeed, thanks to our reviewers’ timely responses, we have been able to reduce the average time from initial manuscript submission to first decision from more than 120 days (2012) to fewer than 80 days (2015).
In addition to the contributions from peer reviewers, eminent scientists from around the world serve as associate editors, playing a central role in the day-to-day operations of JA&WMA. Their breadth of expertise provides more complete coverage in the science of air and waste management, bringing new diligence to the manuscript peer review and publication process. The associate editors are also key representatives of JA&WMA in their respective countries and disciplines, seeking out new topics and special issues on topics of particular interest to the environmental community. Last year, we welcomed two new associate editors: Drs. Lisa Baxter (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and Annette Rohr (EPRI). JA&WMA’s associate editors are listed on the inside cover page of each issue.
Also in 2013, A&WMA instituted a prestigious award named after Dr. Arthur C. Stern, a former president of the association and eminent scholar in the air pollution field, to recognize those who have greatly advanced the air and waste management field through the publication of their research papers in JA&WMA. A selection committee consisting of experts from industry, government, and academia works with me in selecting individuals who have contributed substantially to the environmental field through JA&WMA. Please join me in congratulating the winners of the 2016 Stern Award: Drs. Judith C. Chow, John G. Watson, L.-W. Antony Chen, M.C. Oliver Chang, Norman F. Robinson, Dana Trimble, and Steven Kohl for their paper The IMPROVE_A Temperature Protocol for Thermal Optical Carbon Analysis: Maintaining Consistency with a Long-Term Database (JA&WMA 2007, 57 (9), 1014–1023). Guidelines for nominations for the Stern Award are available on the A&WMA website, www.awma.org, and JA&WMA online at www.tandfonline.com/uawm. I encourage you to send your nominations for the 2017 Stern Award to [email protected] by no later than September 15, 2016.
Finally, I am pleased to report that JA&WMA’s Impact Factor increased in 2015, reversing the recent trend. I look forward to further improving JA&WMA’s prestige with the support of the contributing authors, reviewers, associate editors, and members of the Editorial Review Board. Last but not least, I am grateful to J. David Mobley, Nancy Bernheisel, and Lisa Bucher for their able assistance in managing the journal.
S. Trivikrama Rao, Ph.D.
Editor-in-Chief, JA&WMA North Carolina State University