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<p class="MsoNormal">To: Presidents and Representatives of ICIAM
Member Societies<br>
From: ICIAM President and Officers<br>
Re: Journal Rating Blog<br>
<br>
Request: We are asking you to read the following message and to
disseminate it to the members of your society<br>
<br>
In 2008, the IMU, IMS and ICIAM made public a study on theuse of
citations in assessing research quality (<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.iciam.org/QAR/" target="_blank">http://www.iciam.org/QAR/</a>),
and
in 2010 the IMU and ICIAM created a joint working group to study
the more specific question of the reliability of journal rankings based
on citations, and whether (and how) to develop a community-based
ranking system. The working group was composed of N. Joshi, D. N.
Arnold, C. Hutchins, J. D. S. Jones, M. MacCallum, P. Michor, S.
Mueller, and T. Tang. Its report is on
IMU's Web page at the following URL:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.mathunion.org/publications/reports-recommendations"
target="_blank">
http://www.mathunion.org/publications/reports-recommendations</a>.<br>
<br>
The working group examined the issue of why a rating of mathematical
journals is desirable and submitted a detailed proposal for IMU/ICIAM
journal rating. Before going ahead and taking any further action the
IMU and ICIAM want to explore opinions on a larger scale and get as
much input as possible from the mathematical sciences community. That
is why a "Blog on Mathematical Journals" (URL:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.mathunion.org/journals" target="_blank">
http://www.mathunion.org/journals</a>) has been installed. The blog is
moderated by a group of 6 persons (D. Arnold, C. Hutchins, N. Joshi, P.
Olver (chair), F. Planchon, T. Tang).<br>
<br>
Everyone interested can submit his/her opinion through posting an
article (e-mail to: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:journal.blog@mathunion.org">journal.blog@mathunion.org</a>)
or
forwarding a comment (add a comment to a posted article by typing in
the "comments" window or sending e-mail to <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:journal.blog@mathunion.org">journal.blog@mathunion.org</a>).<br>
<br>
Everyone is invited to go the mathematical journals blog and join the
discussion of the issue.<br>
<br>
ICIAM and IMU particularly ask you to spread the information about the
report and blog on mathematical journals widely in your community*.
Input from a wide range of people is necessary to discuss this
important issue and prepare for a decision on action.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your help.<br>
Barbara Keyfitz, President ICIAM, for the Officers<br>
<br>
*For example, by sending this message, or your own, in an e-mail to
members, or by putting a note in your society's newsletter. Let us
know if you would like to hear more on this from the ICIAM Officers.<o:p></o:p></p>
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