New Water Policy and Practice Volume 1, Number 1 - Fall 2014 | Page 2

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Laudatory Greeting: Welcoming
New Water Policy and Practice Journal

ince the Royal Society in London began publishing its proceedings in the seventeenth
century—and still does—the launching of academic journals by learned societies has
provided a timeline of concerns and challenges. The topics reflect the times. It was
only in the nineteenth century that universities began replacing their classical curriculums
dominated by Greek and Latin studies with what at the time seemed new and novel disciplines. When Dr. Thomas Arnold was appointed the first history professor at Oxford, the
press politely admitted being confused as to what he would find to teach, so novel seemed
the idea of studying modern rather than ancient history.

We have an easier task. The subject of this journal scarcely needs justification.
Whether in the suburbs of South California, or along the fracture lines of Middle Eastern
boundaries, the search for enough water has become a major preoccupation of research,
and a conundrum facing politicians and scientists.

This new journal then is dealing with an old problem that often enough has not
been squarely faced, and which now has aggressively pushed its way into the arena of attention. The axiom that might guide us is that rather than have the answers we may need to
concentrate on what are the questions. At any rate, asking the right questions and soliciting
at least partial answers is the burden that falls on the editors, who have made a brave and
good-humored start by soliciting board members and contributors from all over the globe.

An academic journal resembles a crossroads, with the editors charged to put up
signposts and help readers find their way. One has every confidence that this journal is
going to point us well and be an asset to its subject, a boost to courses and curriculum,
and a worthy companion to the other Policy Studies Organization publications. Were it the
launching of a ship, we would christen it with champagne. Given the topic and the prospect
of its cyber journeys, perhaps one can at least make a metaphoric toast with water and wish
it good speed.
Paul Rich
President, Policy Studies Organization
Garfield House, Washington DC