Acta Carsologica

Acta Carsologica started life 50 years ago, in 1955, as the Proceedings of the Karst Research Institute, Postojna, and was called "Porocila" (Reports). Later the subtitle Acta carsologica was added and this eventually became the main and the only title of the journal. It covers karstology and speleology in general, focusing on the physical part of these branches of science. Topics also include life sciences (speleobiology) and humanities (geography, history) related to karst. The articles include theoretical or regional contributions, case studies or applied studies. Some space is dedicated to reports about events, new books, polemics, etc. Originality of the papers is the key factor, and we are pleased to say that details of some important discoveries or new ideas were published or largely communicated for the first time only in Acta carsologica (for example papers on new cave minerals, inception theory, cave domes or, in the last issue, on dating caves by means of cosmogenic nuclides). The review has an international editorial and advisory board that includes eminent karstologists from all over the world. All manuscripts are reviewed before publication.

Acta Carsologica is published twice a year (15th June and 15th December) jointly by the Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts and Scientific Research Centre SAZU. As well as two regular issues per year, special additional issues are published occasionally, and one or two additional supplements are published every year. Special issues cover specific topics or events (cave monitoring or Forum on Karst World Heritage). Practically all published articles are in English and all have English and Slovene abstracts, key words and UDC. In addition there is commonly a larger summary in Slovene or in another language. Generally speaking about 30 to 40 articles (500 to 700 pages) are published per year. We are proud to state that during its 50 year history Acta carsologica has published papers by most of the world's leading karstologists, from Canada to China, from South Africa to Norway. On the other hand special attention is also paid to young researchers and even to students, to allow them to publish their first research results. When appropriate pictures and other illustrations are published in colour. In special situations articles can be longer than "normal" (there are cases of papers reaching 40 or 50 pages), so that authors can develop their ideas in full or add necessary supporting material (tables, lists, examples). Each author receives 25 offprints of the published article.

About 600 copies of each Acta Carsologica issue are distributed all over the world, chiefly under exchange terms. Our interest is mainly that the journal reaches as many people interested in the sphere of karst science and speleology as possible, so a certain number of copies are distributed free. The review is included within different international bibliographical databases. As well as the printed edition a full electronic version in pdf is accessible free, either directly (http://www.zrc-sazu.si/izrk/carsologica) or via the Karst Research Institute website (http://www.zrc-sazu.si/IZRK). There are also Notes to Contributors. The review is financed mainly by Slovene research funds.

Andrej Kranjc
The Editor