6. IUPAC'S PUBLICATIONS
The principal output from much of the Union's scientific work is
publications, particularly recommendations
and reports from our Commissions and Committees, and lectures
from IUPAC-sponsored symposia.
Our broad publication program includes the journal Pure
and Applied Chemistry, the news magazine Chemistry
International, and a wide
range of books, from the basic volumes on symbols, nomenclature,
and terminology to compilations of evaluated data and specialty books
of all sorts.
A number of significant events occurred in the publications area
in 1998-1999. The special issue on "Natural
and Anthropogenic Environmental Oestrogens--The Scientific Basis for
Risk Assessment" was published as the September 1998 issue of
Pure and Applied Chemistry. This effort was accomplished in
collaboration with IUTOX and IUPHAR and supported by a grant from
ICSU. In addition to the normal print run, the Union paid for an extra
2 000 copies to be printed. Of these, more than 1 000 have been sold
to groups and individuals. In addition, copies have been distributed
free to members of certain international organizations.
Four new volumes in the "Chemistry
for the 21st Century" series have been published since the Geneva
General Assembly: Molecular
Electronics, Interfacial
Science, Chemical
Thermodynamics, and Transition
Metal Catalysed Reactions. Three new nomenclature
books were published in this period: Principles
of Chemical Nomenclature: a Guide to IUPAC Recommendations; Compendium
of Chemical Terminology, 2nd edition; and Compendium
of Analytical Nomenclature (definitive rules 1997), 3rd edition.
The IUPAC-sponsored series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of
Environmental Systems produced two new volumes: Structure
and Surface Reactions of Soil Particles, Vol. 4 and Atmospheric
Particles, Vol. 5.
Paid subscriptions to PAC continue to hold up better than
for the average scientific journal. There were over 700 paid subscribers
to PAC in 1998-1999. Twenty-three
reports and recommendations and the
proceedings of 16 IUPAC-sponsored symposia and conferences were
published in PAC in 1998. In addition, the
proceedings of six symposia were published in Macromolecular Chemistry
and Physics. Chemistry International is distributed
to over 6 000 subscribers, Fellows, and members of IUPAC bodies. This
total includes the distribution of almost 400 copies gratis to scientists
under 35 years of age in developing countries.
A major change was initiated in 1999 with the January
issue of CI. From that date, IUPAC has acted as its own
publisher. This statement means that IUPAC has taken responsibility
for the copy editing, printing, and distribution of CI. Each
of these functions has been contracted out. The result of this change
is a lower cost of production and better control of the finished product.
Based on an analysis of the future of the scientific publishing market,
the Committee on Printed and Electronic Publications recommended,
and the Executive Committee approved, the change of PAC from
having an official publisher to being published by IUPAC. The arrangement
is similar to that described above for CI. The driving force
for this change was the desire to achieve greater independence in
how the Union approaches electronic publishing. The financial analysis
indicated that there was little financial risk in this change.