FROM ENDOGENY TO INTERNATIONALIZATION

BENEDITO BARRAVIERA (1)

(1) Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals

Scientific journals are undoubtedly the greatest tools for Toxinology worldwide. Unfortunately, no more than 10 units are distributed for the five continents. In 1995, a group of researchers from The Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals launched a periodical on this subject. Since 2003, the editorial board of The Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins decided to adopt a politics for the growth and internationalization of the journal. The first step was to change its title to The Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, aiming at increasing its subject area. Then, a process to increase the frequency of publication from twice a year to three times a year and then four times a year was developed. This initiative was based on the minimum goals suggested by the international scientific community for journals of the biological area, which consists in publishing at least four numbers and 32 scientific articles per year. Moreover, endogeny, i.e. the publication of at least 70% papers from the journal’s institution, has to be gradually reduced to promote internationalization. Thus, in 2003, we published two numbers containing 16 scientific articles: six (37.5%) from our Institution (UNESP), three (18.75%) from other Brazilian research institutions, and seven (43.75%) from different countries (Saudi Arabia, India, the United Kingdom and Egypt). In 2004, we published three numbers totalizing 22 papers. Out of these, 11 (50%) were from UNESP, six (27.27%) from other Brazilian research institutions, and five (22.72%) from different countries (Venezuela, Egypt, Colombia and India). In 2005, we achieved the desired four numbers per year containing 44 scientific articles. Out of these, 26 (59.09%) were from UNESP, 10 (22.72%) from other Brazilian research institutions, and eight (18.18%) from different countries (Saudi Arabia, India, Bulgaria, Turkey and Mexico). In 2006, we consolidated the four numbers per year and, again, published 44 papers: 15 (34.09%) from UNESP, five (11.36%) from other Brazilian research institutions, and 24 (54.54%) from different countries (India, Argentina, Iran, Egypt, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Korea, Uruguay, Japan and Sudan). Now, we are encouraging international researchers to submit their papers in order to increase the participation of the international community in our periodical. Moreover, we intend to obtain important indexations, which will improve the consolidation and spreading of the publication. It must be emphasized that the contribution from UNESP, the virtual library SciELO and CNPq has been extremely important to the maintenance and growth of the journal.

CORRESPONDENCE TO: Benedito Barraviera, Caixa Postal, 576, 18.618-000 Botucatu SP Brazil. Email:bbviera@jvat.org.br