Fire Technoloy: Knowing is not enough, We must apply

I am delighted to announce that I have been made Editor-in-Chief of Fire Technology. I take the stead from Jack Watts who expertly led the journal since the 1980s.

Fire Technology is an academic journal publishing scientific research dealing with the full range of fire hazards facing humans and the environment. It publishes original contributions, both theoretical or experimental, that provide and advocate for research and education in fire safety engineering. It is published by Springer in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

I see Fire Technology as a small journal in terms of citation impact (~0.43 in 2012) but a very large venue in terms of audience. It is probably the most read journal in the field of fire science, especially by industry. I would like to use FT to push fire science into technology; it is and should continue being The applied journal in the field.

My first step is to renew the Editorial Review Board and choose the best Associate Editors. My editorial line is to expand into emerging fire science topics (wildland fires, WUI, fire and structures, renewable energies, energy storage, etc), make the journal even more exciting, capture the best applied and novel research pieces and reward the reviewers. The immediate objective is to increase its scientific impact (~ impact factor) while maintaining its large industry readership.

Below I reproduce the content of my first editorial as Editor-in-Chief, Jan 2013.

 ----
Editorial: Knowing is Not Enough, We Must Apply
 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10694-012-0318-1
by Guillermo Rein, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College, London, UK

Jack Watts has superbly led this journal for several decades, and it is an honour for me to follow his steps and take the stead. My hope is to do nearly as well as he has done. With his help, the support of the Associate Editors, the Editorial Board, Springer staff and especially with the collective efforts of countless reviewers, I look forward a journal that provides and advocates for research and education in fire safety engineering.

Whether science precedes technology or as often observed the inverse order is found, the two of them must communicate and feed to each other if we are to reduce the worldwide burden of fire hazards. This journal wants to bridge the gap. Fire Technology will continue pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge and technology, and help reduce the unworthy obstructions to progress in fire prevention and public safety.

I would like to finish with the wise words of the German writer Goethe (1749– 1832), who said ‘‘Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do’’.