Re: Regarding the proposed name change for the Journal: "Cytometry"

While I was on ISAC Council, the topic/concept of changing the name of the 
journal came up for consideration at least twice. Then, the Council 
members (or at least a majority) had the sense to leave the name alone 
(something about the concept of "name recognition", etc.). Like several of 
the recent responses on the list, I still feel that changing the name 
makes little sense.
While I'm at it, what about the concept of renewing the contract for the 
Journals with Wiley? I don't remember that the ISAC Executive Committee 
(remember, they are responsible for running the society between meetings) 
ever communicated with the membership their negotiations and their 
intention to re-sign a contract with Wiley. Since Wiley, as a publisher, 
appears to be somewhat against the concept of open-access to publications, 
shouldn't this have been a concept opened up to the society's membership 
for comment and consideration? Reminds me of the ISAC business meeting (at 
Ashville?) where we had a long discussion and vote on the concept of 
changing the name of the society, only to be told after, that the 
membership vote did not count! Some things never change, even after voting 
in a "coalition for change"!


T. Vincent Shankey, Ph.D.
Advanced Technology Center
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
vincent.shankey@coulter.com
(305)-380-2430





"David Chambers" <davidc@ccmi.salk.edu>
09/08/2005 06:51 PM
	To:	"Cytometry Mailing List" 
<cytometry@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu>
	cc: 
	Subject:	Regarding the proposed name change for the 
Journal: "Cytometry"


So.

According to a recent email from ISAC, the Council wants to change the
name of "Cytometry", citing the reason:

"to better position ISAC and our journal in the scientific community.
It is important that the scientific community recognize that the field
of cytometry has a much wider reach than simply flow cytometry".

I was under the impression that "cytometry" is a word derived from
"cyto", meaning "cell" and "metry" meaning "measurement"; quite how that
measurement is done is not implied.  When biologists study cells, by
whatever method, they make measurements on them.  What, then, is wrong
with "Cytometry"?  I must have missed something.  Where in the name
"Cytometry" is the word "flow"?  Is it one of those hidden words that
only appears at certain full moons?  :-) Or perhaps are there just too
many flow cytometry papers in the journal, in which case along with
changing the name, the Council needs to change the editorial policy as 
well.

ISAC's email points me to an online survey with 4 suggested alternate
names, and a "fill in your own" box.  All of the suggested names are
unwieldy, sound like any of a multitude of other journals, and - worst
of all - they all start with the word "Cell", making it sound like they
are publications of Cell Press!

"Cytometry" is an incisive name and carries considerable brand identity,
along the lines of "Cell", "Science" or "Nature".  Imagine, for
instance, that the AAAS decided to rename "Science" to "Scientific News
and Research Communications".  Nowhere near as succinct.

"Cytometry" is the best name for this Journal.		 For myself, I 
strongly
oppose changing the name (and have filled in the online survey).  I urge
others to communicate their views to ISAC.

- David