In September, the Hydrogeology Journal (HJ) editors and editorial office, together with the IAH executive manager Ian Davey, met in The Netherlands to plan the journal’s short and longer term directions and procedures, while welcoming in the team two new editors, Brindha Karthikeyan and Marwan Fahs, and – last but not least – provide a fond farewell to Clifford Voss, who served as HJ’s executive editor for 31 years. The editorial board meetings were held at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, which also hosted a joint groundwater research seminar with IHE and IGRAC staff and students, and former editor Vincent Post.
The packed editorial meeting agenda covered a range of journal business topics including a detailed analysis and upgrade of the manuscript review and editing workflow; the review of journal policies to maintain inclusivity with respect to HJ’s international readership and to best accommodate new publishing practices and ethics standards as well as the rapid increase in hydrogeology scientists and practitioners utilizing artificial intelligence; expanding HJ’s scientific scope to reflect the evolving field of hydrogeology; and increasing its visibility including through IAH.
Amidst a busy series of meetings, the team found time to explore the charming city of Delft, with highlights including the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), other historic buildings and their relationships with the canal network, as well as maatjesharing (Dutch herring) sandwiches.
Left to right: Cliff Voss, Marwan Fash, Hamish Johnson, Jean-Christophe Comte, Susanne Schemann, Jean-Michel Lemieux, Ian Davey, Rui Ma, and Brindha Karthikeyan; absent from the group photo: Maria-Theresia Schafmeister.
