The Australian Journal of Earth Sciences (since 1997 incorporating the AGSO Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics) is the official journal of the Geological Society of Australia. It is the premier geoscience journal in Australasia and publishes peer-reviewed, theoretical and experimental research papers as well as significant review articles. The journal covers the whole field of earth science including basin studies, regional geophysical studies, and metallogeny. There is usually a special thematic issue each year featuring a selection of papers on a particular area of earth science. All thematic issues have eminent guest editor(s) and often cover themes developed in symposia at the Geological Society's biennial Australian Geological Conventions.

In the year 2002, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Geological Society of Australia, and in 2003 the journal itself will reach its 50th volume. One of the strengths of the journal is that it has always covered the whole range of earth sciences—from Aquifer systems to Zebra rock! While geographically most papers have dealt with aspects of geoscience in Australasia, the journal will publish high-quality papers dealing with any region in the world: indeed one of the earliest papers published (in 1967) was entitled "The sequence of geological events and the dynamics of the Milky Way Galaxy."

Another strength is the rapid publication of papers submitted and the fact that the journal has always tried to respond to the interests of the scientific community. Several surveys have shown that the Geological Society’s members are particularly interested in reading papers on economic geology, and over the years we have been able to attract an increasing number of such papers. More recently, Internet access to, and electronic delivery of, the journal has resulted in broadened exposure to an international readership.

Following the incorporation of the AGSO Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics with the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, considerable effort was devoted to improving the design and format of the journal. The Editorial Board was reorganised and now includes a four-person executive to provide rapid advice on major journal policy issues. These changes have proved to be of enormous benefit.

During the past few years, the ISI Journal Citation Report^® ranking of the journal has steadily increased. In large part this is due to the widely recognised high standard of the papers published, which in turn is a reflection of the quality of refereeing of submitted manuscripts, ensured by an editorial board of prominent international scientists. The annual award of the prestigious Stillwell Award, acknowledging papers of excellence published in the journal, also helps to maintain these high standards. Another factor is the increasing number of review papers and thematic papers appearing in the journal. Timely thematic papers on topics and areas of particular interest have been very well received. Three examples, all taken from Volume 49 (for 2002), show the range of themes.

First, "Regolith geology of the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: implications for exploration," a one-paper thematic issue of the journal, summarised studies undertaken by government agencies, universities and the mining industry. These studies dealt with the distribution and formation of the regolith over the Yilgarn Craton—one of the world's principal mineral provinces, with considerable resources of gold, nickel, and bauxite—which is currently a major target for exploration.

Second, "Geodynamics of Australia and its mineral systems," a two-part thematic issue, presented some of the research undertaken by the Australian Geodynamics Cooperative Research Centre: the first part, "Geodynamics of Australia and its mineral systems: technologies, syntheses, and regional studies," dealt with new technologies, and Australia-wide syntheses and regional studies, while the second part, "Geodynamics of Australia and its mineral systems: mineral provinces," focused on geodynamic aspects of Australia’s key mineral provinces.

The third thematic issue, "Evolution of the Tasmanides, eastern Australia," resulted from a symposium convened by the guest editor during the 15th Australian Geological Convention and included a range of topics from structural and geochemical studies, through geophysics, to regional syntheses.

As the range and diversity of papers has grown and the high standard of the journal maintained, the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences has been privileged to showcase Australian geoscience and the work of Australian geoscientists to an ever wider audience, as the increase in citations as reported by ISI Essential Science Indicators testifies. It is the Society’s intention to further this role in the future by publishing more timely thematic issues and expanding the variety of topics covered to include, for example, more sedimentology and petroleum geology papers. In this way we will ensure that the journal remains in the forefront of geoscience journals internationally.