Analytical Methods, the latest addition to the analytical journal portfolio of RSC Publishing and a sister journal of Analyst, is celebrating its first online issue today. 

A total of eight articles, including six papers, a technical note and a review article make it into issue 1 of Analytical Methods. The journal's cover image is inspired by an article on screen printed electrochemical platforms for pH sensing by Craig Banks and colleagues of Manchester Metropolitan University. 
Highly interdisciplinary, the journal will be of interest to researchers across the world and across many disciplines, focusing on real analytical issues and providing solutions beneficial to the wider community. 
The journal's scope encompasses new applications of analytical science and technology which are addressing current global challenges such as securing food supplies; improving and preserving human health; creating and maintaining sustainable feedstocks; and sustaining the management of water and air quality. 
Its editor-in-chief, Brett Paull from Dublin City University is supported by editorial offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia. 
"I believe Analytical Methods will lead the way in demonstrating the essential link between fundamental and applied analytical science and will provide solutions to challenging analytical problems of wide societal concern", says Paull. 
Analytical Methods  is a monthly publication and readers can look forward to two further journal issues being published between now and the end of this year, and twelve in 2010.
Every current issue of Analytical Methods is freely available to everybody on the website until the end of 2010. Free institutional online access to all previous issues of the journal will be available following a simple registration process.