Geological Magazine, established in 1864, is one of the oldest and best-known periodicals in the Earth Sciences. Its worldwide circulation, broad scope and high production values keep the journal at the forefront of the field. It publishes original papers, review articles, rapid communications and discussions about all aspects of the geosciences. It covers petrology, geochemistry, palaeontology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, geophysics, and geomorphology, and it includes contributions on volcanology, marine geology, glaciology, palaeoclimatology, palaeoceanography, geochronology, biostratigraphy, geohazards and Earth history, providing a niche for interdisciplinary papers on regional geology and Earth history.

For anyone new to Geological Magazine, please can you provide us with a brief overview of the title?

Geological Magazine is a broad spectrum, relatively traditional geology oriented journal with contributions from across the fields of solid Earth geological and geoscience research. It has a long history of publishing research in sedimentary and igneous geology, structure and tectonics and has a strong interest in paleontology.

What makes Geological Magazine stand out from other titles in the field?

It is one of a handful of journals that tries to be both international and with a broad research interest. In this respect it is similar to the Geological Society of America Bulletin or the Journal of the Geological Society of London. It is particularly suitable for interdisciplinary work that spans several sub-disciplines within the geological sciences and provides a good venue for special collections.

What can we expect from Geological Magazine in 2017?

It is our goal to broaden the scope of the research to include some aspects of geophysics, quaternary geology, marine geology and geoarchaeology where these contribute to answering fundamental scientific questions. Although we are interested in changing environments the focus will remain very much on the solid Earth and the geological record. A key goal is to improve our impact factor and refine the quality of the papers being published.

What advice do you have for any author submitting work to Geological Magazine? 

I think its key to remember that our readership is widely educated in geology and geosciences but may not be a specialist in your particular field. This means that complex methods and concepts need to be explained and referenced carefully so that the average reader can follow your arguments without having to go away and look up lots of other papers first. Abbreviations are confusing to the non specialist and should be used only when necessary. A good map is the key to a clear understanding. Make sure your figures are bold and clear, as many people may only look at these and your abstract.

What is the most exciting research currently going on in Geoscience?

Some of the best research today is in traditional fields that are now embracing more quantitative approaches after long qualitative histories. This is especially true in palaeontology and sedimentology/geomorphology. Application of single grain provenance methods is now revolutionizing our understanding of mountain belt development and erosion. This has allowed geologists to actually test long living debates about how the solid Earth, atmospheres and oceans interact over many time scales.

What was it that first attracted you to study and research Geoscience, and is it the same thing that motivates you now?

I loved the combination of science and the enjoyment of the natural world. There is also something awesome about geological time and size scales and makes the subject compelling. Imagining huge masses of rock in motion, or millions of tons of sediment fluxing through giant rivers made the subject seems dramatic. I liked the applied aspects too, seeing how geology made a difference to society in many ways from energy to resources to understanding hazards. Today these things still motivate me but I am also now excited about how past changes in Earth may have impacted the development of human society and what that means for the future.

To celebrate Peter’s appointment the latest issue of Geological Magazine (Volume 154, Issue 3) has been made freely available until 30th June 2017.

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