With the Magazine of Concrete Research having now passed its 70th anniversary milestone, there has been much reflection on the history of this journal and its growth over the decades. But of course, we must also look forward to the future of the journal and the role it will play in not just concrete research, but in construction engineering and society as a whole.
With a Board that is constituted of members covering a wide field of expertise, across both structural and material areas of study, the journal is in a strong position to deal with challenges ahead. The eighteen members of the journal have gradually changed reflecting shifts within concrete research itself. The Board is now comprised of both academics and practitioners from seven different countries and across three continents.
This geographical shift, while still highly emphasised within East Asian countries such as China, India and South Korea, has also expanded. In particular, Middle Eastern and Western Asian nationsare making ever larger contributions to the study of concrete, with Iran, Iraq, Egypt and Turkey being of note. This of course does not undermine the contribution of Europe or the Americas, with countries including Canada, Brazil, Germany and the UK continually adding to the world's pool of concrete knowledge.
With the growing diversity of countries contributing to this sector, it is inevitable that there will be an increase in international co-operation and collaboration and Magazine of Concrete Research is proud to help facilitate this sharing of knowledge. Within the last year alone, papers have been published by authors from 30 different countries and a quarter of all papers published have been co-authored by academics and practitioners from across countries and continents, pulling from their cumulative expertise.
However, it is not just where the research is coming from that has changed, but also what it comprises. While some topics that were published in the very first issue of Magazine of Concrete Research are still relevant today, others have become much more prominent.
Arguably the most important area within concrete research and development is sustainability. Concrete is the world's most-used construction material and its production is responsible for a significant part of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is no alternative that is as cost-effective and as readily available, therefore making sustainable concrete an essential topic for discussion.
It is due to this that for the December issue of 2019, Magazine of Concrete Research released two themed issues on sustainable material options for concrete and hopes to release more on this topic in the years ahead.
Alongside sustainability, with advancing technology and knowledge, other areas have become more prevalent, including smart sensors for structural health monitoring, geopolymer concretes and photocatalytic concrete. These, among others, will look to be highlighted by the journal in the coming years as Magazine of Concrete Research continues respond and change.
It has been a successful 70 years for the Magazine of Concrete Research. The journal, along with its Editorial Board, will continue to highlight the topics which concern the construction and concrete communities and wider society.
There are nine years left until the journal's 80th anniversary. Much can occur in the span of almost a decade and the Editorial Board accept the challenges that the future will present.
