It has been sixteen years since I became Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Biometeorology (IJB). In that span, I have watched our journal, as well as the International Society of Biometeorology (ISB), transform substantially. The whole publication process now is vastly different, streamlined, and far more efficient than ever.

The IJB has grown too, from around 150 submissions in 2008 to over 500 submissions in recent years. We’ve expanded from 6 field editors to 20, added a managing editor position, and increased from six issues per year to 12. The increase in submissions has resulted in reviewer solicitations growing from around 450 to over 3000 per year. The IJB covers more of the world, with the number of countries authors hail from increasing from 41 to 57; in 2022, reviewers collectively represented 91 different countries, compared to 46 in 2008. Our prominence in the field of biometeorology has grown, with a 2021 impact factor of 3.738, the highest in the journal’s history.

As you can imagine, this welcomed growth has also presented challenges to the journal and its editorial team. To accommodate this growth, in consultation with Springer, the ISB has approved a significant change to the editorial board structure. Moving forward, we will have three co-Editors-in-Chief, one each for the three broad realms of Humans, Animals, and Plants.

As I step into the role of President of the ISB, I announce that I will thus be stepping down in my role as Editor-in-Chief. Appointed to the newly created co-Editor-in-Chief positions are long-time ISB members Alison Donnelly (Plants), Pablo Fernández de Arróyabe Hernáez (Humans), and Angela Lees (Animals), joining Cameron Lee (Managing Editor) and our field editors. I have been asked to and agreed to stay on in a newly created position of Editor Emeritus for a period of at least one year; while I will gradually recede from day-to-day management of the journal, this position will help ensure continuity for the journal in the months and years to come.

It has been an honor to serve as Editor-in-Chief of the IJB for this period, and I have fond memories of the many members of our society I’ve met in my role. None of this growth in our journal would have been possible without the support of the society and its members, as well as the biometeorology community at large. For this, you have my sincere appreciation and thanks. I look forward to seeing the journal continue to grow and transform in the years to come under its new leadership and encourage your continued support that has helped shape the IJB.