New Editor-in-Chief Editorial

Abstract

Anew journal editorwho follows a successful predecessor faces a daunting challenge. Doubly so if that predecessor was the founder of the journal. Everyone in engineering studies, and everyone associated with Engineering Studies, owes Gary Downey an enormous debt for putting the journal on its feet, bringing it through nine great volumes, and integrating itwith the International Network for Engineering Studies (INES) andother institutions in our field. Much of my own research highlights the importance of institutions such as journals, conference series, professional societies, academic centers, and funding streams in constituting research communities. I knowhowmuch a field like engineering studies needs those institutions, but also how difficult it can be for the people who try to hold those institutions together. Several of the community builders I’ve written about were driven to distraction, ill health, or megalomania, or simply gave up and left the fields they helped establish. Fortunately, Gary hasn’t succumbed and will remain a vital part of INES and a resource for the journal. For myself and the entire editorial team: thank you, Gary!