Evolution of diversity in the editorial boards of Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta and Chemical Geology

Background: Editorial board members of academic journals are often considered gatekeepers of knowledge and role models for the community. Editorial boards should have sufficiently diverse backgrounds to facilitate the publication of manuscripts with a wide range of research paradigms, methods, and cultural perspectives.Objectives: This study critically evaluates changes in the representation of binary gender and geographic diversity over time for the editorial boards of Chemical Geology and Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. These are the two flagship geochemistry journals from the European Association of Geochemistry and the Geochemical Society, respectively.Methods: Composition of editorial boards was taken from the first issue of the year in question and editorial board members were coded for country of affiliation and binary gender. Results: Gender parity, limited to men and women, and geographic representation of the editorial boards of Chemical Geology and Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, have steadily increased between the late 1980’s and 2021. However, geographic distribution remains largely dominated by affiliations from North America and Western Europe. The Editor-in-Chief or board of editors have a significant impact on the level of diversity of the editorial board. With nearly every newly appointed editor, both geographic and gender diversity may evolve. However, the persisting substantial underrepresentation of editorial board members from outside of North America and Europe is of concern and needs to be the focus of active recruitment and ongoing monitoring. This approach will ensure that traditionally low levels of geographic diversity are mitigated and representation of our global communities is improved and maintained in the future. Conclusions: Improving diversity and inclusion among editorial boards as well as strengthening journal and disciplinary reputations will reinforce one another. Instituting a rotating editorship with an emphasis on embedding broader geographic networks and more equitable international recruitment could ensure sustained and improved geographic, gender, and wider representation, which, as a consequence, may lift scientific originality and the quality of published research.