STM publisher Springer, Germany, has announced an agreement with the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) to publish The Encyclopedia of Molecular Life Sciences. The 11-volume work will be published in print and electronically in 2012. Society members will have free access to the online edition in perpetuity.
The Encyclopedia of Molecular Life Sciences will focus on understanding biological phenomena at the level of molecules and their interactions that govern life processes. Volumes 1 to 4 will focus on genes and genomes, volumes 5 to 8 on protein structure and function, and volumes 9 and 10 on molecular aspects of cell structure and function. Volume 11 will explore unifying concepts and theory from biology, chemistry and physics that are essential for understanding the molecular life sciences and will also include sections on teaching perspectives and assessment tools.
The information provided in the first ten volumes of the encyclopaedia will be linked to key journal articles of primary literature and will offer an overview of the fundamental theories and foundational concepts that underpin the science. Each volume will consist of four major sections. In addition to volume editors, each section will have its own editor who is an established expert in the field. Contributions to the encyclopaedia will come from leading scientists and educators. The electronic version of the work will provide state-of-the-art functionality and navigation, including electronic supplementary material such as unlimited colour images, datasets, simulations, and video and audio features.
