From the Editor

Dear Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica readers,

Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica is at the brink of the editorial transfer once more yet, it will be smooth and progressive transition. Although, during all those years I have been serving as reviewer, associate editor in the journal, my new task as being editor-in-chief demands a solid memory backup whom I shall be depending on former Editor-in-Chief Prof. Önder Kılıçoğlu. As he mentions in his editorial, journal editorship is much like a relay race rather than being individual runs. I feel confident and safe having a very successful experienced former editor-in-chief by my side.

Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology was founded on 27.04.1939 with the initiative of late Prof. Akif Şakir Şakar. The need of a journal, for publishing academic work of society members, having an international journal title and abstracts published in German, English and French had been one of the statue items. It was not until July 1962 Prof Şakar’s dream could be accomplished. Prof. Kılıçoğlu similarly mentioned the historical moments in his inauguration editorial which deserves to be remembered as an important milestone in academic orthopaedics in Turkey.

In 2018, scientific publication environment was shocked by an unprecedented rule set forth mostly by European funders: “The scientists they funded would be required to make journal articles developed with their support immediately free to read when published”. This fired up ongoing discussion on open access journal and publication charges. At first glance this decision would apply to an estimate by Clarivate analytics only 6% of world’s papers published in 2017. However, it is interesting to see that 35% and 31% of papers published in Nature and Science respectively cited at least one coalition S member as a funding source.

On the other hand, Inter University Council of Turkey in 2019 has announced journals that charge manuscripts, after being announced accepted, as predatory. This decision puts AOTT unfairly right in the bullseye of the target. I would like to announce that as new editor-in-chief, AOTT’s new APC regulations will be announced shortly to overcome existing situation.

Looking at the editorial board, you may have noticed that there are number of new national and international distinguished associate editors joined to our editorial family. Most of them were already serving as reviewers for a long time at the journal. I welcome them all to the AOTT family and believe with their energy journal’s “reaction time” will be shorter and “quality” higher.

AOTT follows and encourages the guidelines cited in information to authors on declaration of interests. Readers will be able to publicly reach declaration of interests of associate editors and editor-in-chief in the near future. We believe this would be our utmost responsibility to readers and authors. As editor-in-chief, I am fully aware of my responsibilities in ensuring the quality of the content, motivating and developing editorial staff, prohibit unethical content and plagiarism. Prof. Kılıçoğlu has quoted Planck’s principle that is informally, often paraphrased as “Science progresses one funeral at a time”. This phrase has been often quoted by Thomas Kuhn and others. Kuhn has challenged existing view on scientific progress “development by accumulation” and adopted the idea of “scientific revolution” thus as Kuhn foresee, I shall be waiting your new questions to old data. I approach my new role as editor-in-chief with both excitement and trepidation.

Last but not least, I would like to present my deepest gratitude to former editor-in-chiefs whom I stand on their shoulders, to presidents and executive committee members of Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Turkish Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology for their trust and confidence.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the first issue in 2021. Without further ado, I shall let you enjoy rest of the journal articles.

References