Editorial

Microbiology Australia, the official journal of The Australian Society for Microbiology, continues to provide highly accessible peer-reviewed information that informs readers about useful microbiology information including the latest advances in the broad aspects of microbiology. This success is due to its contributors, reviewers and the oversight of Editorial Board. Microbiology Australia was radically restructured from its predecessor, Australian Microbiologist. In 1995, the first Editorial Board defined the objectives of ASM’s new journal, Microbiology Australia, as follows: ‘(i) to inform, interest and educate; (ii) to encourage member contribution to the journal; (iii) to be broadly based; (iv) feature articles should target members not specialising in that particular area of microbiology; and (v) articles should be pitched at honours students and above’.¹ Those aims are still relevant and followed today.

This year two of our long-standing Editorial Board members have retired. I would like to thank Helen Smith and Mary Barton for their long and active service to Microbiology Australia. Helen Smith and Mary Barton joined the EB two decades ago and have provided excellent advice in their roles. Both Mary and Helen have also served as guest editors producing issues on Veterinary Microbiology and Public Health, respectively. I would like to wish Mary and Helen well for their futures.

The Editorial Board invites ASM members with high motivation for all aspects of microbiology to join the Editorial Board. The first step is to express interest describing your interests in Microbiology Australia’s future and to submit a CV. We are keen to maintain the diversity of the EB members, and to fill places like those previously overseen by Helen and Mary who provided expertise in public health and veterinary microbiology.

We continue to strive to improve Microbiology Australia and increase its rankings amongst microbiology journals. Issues are thematic apart from the biennial issue which is composed of peer-reviewed articles submitted from our early career researchers. Our next Early Career Researchers’ issue is issue 4 of 2023 and we would like to hear from our younger members about their research. There are opportunities to publish around 10 articles in the special issue. Previous publications have led to considerable interest and many have now been cited.

While Microbiology Australia operates with themed issues we are now able to accept non-thematic Lab Reports and In Focus submissions from ASM members. Such articles are peer reviewed and accepted articles are published at a small cost to contributors to defray publication costs. Please direct any enquiries to me.