lsijls

LS- International Journal of Life Sciences

2319-118X2319-1198

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lsijls-11-3-editorial

FROM THE DESK

From Chief Editor’s Desk

Kumar

Ashwani

Online Published on 18 January, 2022.

189-122022

113

2022

IndianJournals.com

Celebrating the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Society of Photosynthesis Research (ISPR) to Govindjee is the focus of this 2022-closing issue of the International Journal of Life Science (LS- An IJLS). The first article, by Arthur Nonomura (USA; AN) and Ashwani Kumar (India; AK), recognizes the presentation of this highly prestigious award to Govindjee; which is followed by a wonderful tribute on his 90^th birthday, by Michael Seibert (USA), Autar Matoo (USA) & AK. This is a marvelous collection of 26 international messages from friends. Then, we have an article by Hartmut Lichtenthaler (Germany), AK, Sheo Mohan Prasad (India) and AN, which brings to light what Govindjee has published just by himself, in single-authored papers. [In addition to the above, and, ahead by one year, AK, Joy E. Block (USA), and AN initiated the celebration for Govindjee by publishing “Mister Photosynthesis of the 21^st century, Govindjee” in LS- An IJLS, 10 (2): 61-80, 2021.)] The very last paper, in the current issue, by Yuan-Yeu Yau (USA), Mona Esterling (USA) and Srishti G. Khandelwal (India) deals with COVID-19 in a timely consideration of how the pandemic is playing itself out. It is must reading—all the way to the end of the article—to find out if there is an end in sight.

This closing issue of our LS- An IJLS, volume 11 (issue #3) marks not only the lifetime achievements, and making it through the pandemic without so much as catching a cold while quarantined at JNU (India) for months, but also the 90^th birthday of Govindjee on 24^th October; and coincidentally our 2022 “Deepawali” was celebrated on the same day, too.

One might ask if there is anything left to be said. Indeed, yes! As aptly stated in this issue (Lichtenthaler et al.), “Govindjee is a prolific and influential writer in the arena of oxygenic photosynthesis; he is internationally revered as one of the most prominent plant scientists of the 21^st century, who enhanced ‘Emerson Enhancement’, and, thus, we urge that this effect that led to the concept of two-light reaction and two-pigment system be called “Emerson-Govindjees’ Enhancement effect” since it was the pioneering work of both Govindjee and his wife, Rajni, that proved that the effect was in photosynthesis, not in respiration, and that both systems were run by different spectral forms of chlorophyll a.” And by all means, we at LS- An IJLS advocate for this long overdue recognition of Govindjee and Rajni.

It is not my intention to list all the articles here, but mainly the focus of LS- An IJLS, which is to cover global issues and we have done it successfully by support from first class scientists such as Govindjee and many others from around the World. We note that while photosynthesis generates our oxygen, food and fuel that sustains life on this Earth, ever greater stewardship must continue. Thus, as chief editor, I invite scientists from all nations to submit papers to our journal towards this goal, as well.

Finally, I thank all our editors from various fields, especially our chief science officer, AN, who has contributed to the success of LS- An IJLS immensely. Our team, headed by Reema Bagga, and the entire publishing staff in Delhi, deserves special praise for delivering all of the issues on schedule, with utmost care.

On behalf of the entire editorial board of our journal, I wish our contributors and readers a very happy and prosperous New Year 2023, and hope that all will serve the cause for the betterment of Life on our green planet.

Professor Emeritus & Editor-in-Chief, IJLS