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ALFREDO AZCARATE VARELA
THE BAJA POST/EDITOR
The Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the journal Marine Science, edited by the Institute of Oceanological Research (IIO), which has established itself as a benchmark in multidisciplinary research.
Its mission is to support the dissemination of scientific knowledge by publishing articles in English and Spanish through an open-access platform, with minimal publication costs for authors. This editorial policy allows researchers to communicate their findings to a global scientific community, breaking language barriers and ensuring free access to content in both languages.
In his speech, UABC Dean Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre highlighted the significance of this anniversary for the university and for the field of aquatic sciences in Mexico and Latin America. He explained that before the journal Marine Science, there was no record of a similar publication, suggesting that it is the first academic journal of UABC.
«For UABC, having a journal such as Marine Science is a great source of pride, as it is a 100% Cimarron scientific publication that is backed by quality indices in which it is included and is a national reference,» he mentioned.
Dean Palafox Maestre highlighted the challenges the journal has faced, particularly the need to compete with other open-access publications that offer shorter publication times. In response, the editorial team has optimized its processes, managing to reduce production times to a minimum of six months and a maximum of twelve, without compromising the quality of the work.
Marine Sience Journal can be seen in: https://cienciasmarinas.com.mx/
«This has allowed us to achieve bibliometric indicators that position the UABC journal as the most attractive option in Mexico and Latin America for publishing high-quality research papers, which offer key scientific knowledge for new findings and support decision-making in aquatic science and oceanography issues, positively impacting the marine ecosystem,» Palafox Maestre explained.
He also paid tribute to the academics who have contributed to the success of Marine Science since its inception. He specially recognized Dr. Saúl Álvarez Borrego, director of the Faculty of Marine Sciences from 1973 to 1975, and oceanographer Katsuo Antonio Nishikawa Kinomura, director of the IIO from 1968 to 1973, as well as teacher María Guadalupe García y Lepe, founding editor, and the editorial teams that have shaped this publication. He also highlighted the leadership of current researchers, who in 2023 achieved a significant increase in the journal’s productivity and renewed its format to meet the current demands of science.
To conclude his speech, Palafox Maestre congratulated those who have been part of the journal for the work they have done over 50 years. «Thank you for contributing to the advancement of marine science and for inspiring others with your passion and commitment,» he said.
For his part, IIO Director Dr. Luis Walter Daesslé Heuser took a look back at significant events from 1974, the year the journal was created, and highlighted the changes in the landscape of scientific publications, noting the exponential growth of articles and journals, as well as current challenges such as the workload for reviewers and the emergence of predatory journals.
Despite these challenges, he celebrated the unique characteristics of Marine Science, such as its free access, continuous publication, and bilingual format. He also thanked those who are part of this project, emphasizing the positive impact the journal has had and will continue to have on the dissemination of knowledge in marine sciences.
The event also featured current co-editor-in-chief and editorial coordinator of Marine Science, Dr. Armando Félix Bermúdez, who recalled how the journal has evolved from a local initiative to a global source of knowledge since its inception. Currently, the website has published more than 1 thousand 400 articles and received 49 thousand international visits so far this year, from countries such as Japan, Brazil, the United States, among others.
Dr. Félix Bermúdez mentioned future challenges, such as the proliferation of paid open-access journals and the use of artificial intelligence in editorial processes. However, he emphasized that Marine Science has always adapted to changes, maintaining its commitment to quality and innovation in the dissemination of scientific knowledge, with the assurance of continuing to lead in the field of marine sciences for another 50 years.
Marine Science Journal, edited by the Institute of Oceanological Research since 1974, has published 50 volumes and over 1,480 articles throughout its history. It is currently indexed in prestigious databases such as Journal Citation Reports (JCR), Scopus, Ebsco, ScIELO, Latindex, and the Mexican Journal Classification System of the National Council of Humanities, Sciences, and Technology (Conahcyt), consolidating itself as one of the most influential scientific publications in its field.
