Beamline papers

About a year ago I wrote in the IUCr Newsletter about the lack of recognition that was felt by scientists working at the large research infrastructures such as synchrotrons. I was confirmed in my belief that this represented a major problem from the many reactions I received after the letter appeared. It is a problem that is not easy to solve, but as a result of a meeting with beamline scientists at the Biology and Synchrotron Radiation congress in Melbourne last February, the Journal of Synchrotron Radiation (JSR) has introduced a special format for papers that can be used to describe and give details about beamlines. A paper describing a beamline makes it easy for the users of the beamline to give a reference to the beamline, so it is my hope that many beamline scientists can find the time to submit this special type of paper to JSR.

More details of the format of beamline papers and how to submit such papers for publication are available from the web pages of JSR.