KwaZulu-Natal Museum’s Research Journals Climb in Global Rankings
In the latest Scimago Global Journal Rankings* (for 2019), both research journals published by the KwaZulu-Natal Museum have made significant gains. Southern African Humanities, produced by the Department of Human Sciences, climbed from 56 in the world to 41 among Archaeology journals (out of 290 monitored journals). African Invertebrates, produced by the Department of Natural Sciences, is ranked 104 out of 145 Insect Science journals. Both journals have been published for over 100 years, albeit in different guises.
On the achievement of Southern African Humanities, Dr Geoff Blundell, the Head of the Department of Human Sciences, had this to say: “The climb of 15 places in the global rankings for Humanities is a major achievement when you consider that the journal has significantly outperformed its counterpart, produced by the professional association in southern Africa, which is better resourced and is more widely distributed than Humanities. It’s a testament to the hard work of the editor, Dr Gavin Whitelaw and the two deputy editors—Dr Ghilraen Laue and Dr Justine Wintjes—who are assisted by Ms Dimakatso Tlhoaele and Mr Mudzunga Munzhedzi, that the journal continues to be of exceptional academic quality and is an excellent resource for any serious scholar of southern African archaeological, historical and anthropological material. The ongoing success of the journal is also made possible by the administrative and management staff at the museum… their efficiency allows us curators and researchers to focus on academic concerns.”
On the success of African Invertebrates, Dr John Midgley, the Head of the Department of Natural Sciences and Editor in Chief of African Invertebrates, stated: “The success of African Invertebrates as an Insect Science journal is all the more remarkable when one considers that we are a general invertebrate science journal. Publishing in Africa has become more challenging, and the sustained ranking is down to the dedication of our team of Subject Editors, including KZNM researchers Dr Thembeka Nxele, Dr Kirstin Williams and Dr Igor Muratov, who ensure we maintain our scientific standards and our editorial partners, Pensoft Publishers, who help ensure the final product is of the highest quality possible.”
With the new rankings, both Southern African Humanities and African Invertebrates have also moved into the top positions in their respective fields for academic journals produced on the African continent.
*www.scimagojr.com
