Commentary: A New Year -- And A Renewal Of Dedication To Our Readers

With this issue, The Scientist steps forward into its fourth year of publication as the trade newspaper for the science professional. In celebrating this milestone, I can say with confidence that The Scientist has indeed arrived and is here to stay.

Following its startup in October 1986, our young paper - like most fledgling publishing ventures - suffered its share of uncertainties. The solid gains it has posted in subscriptions and advertising since then - particularly during the past six months - have thus been especially gratifying. Its progress attests, I believe, to the qualities that distinguish it from the other fine publications available to the science community.

Chief among these qualities is The Scientist's dedication to a broad cross section of professionals, including bench scientists, teachers, managers, and policymakers. The Scientist is not dedicated to tracking a specific discipline or subdiscipline; nor is it a vehicle for publishing original...