Note from the Editor-in-Chief: The responsibility of scientometrics graduates

 
 
It has been passed several years since the birth of the master's degree in the field of scientometrics, one of the academic disciplines under the Department of Knowledge and Information Science. In addition to Shahed and Tehran universities, which have taken steps to accept students in this field since 2011, the country's higher education system has gradually witnessed the beginning of its activities in some other universities and scientific centers of the country, such as Yazd, Shiraz, Regional Information Center for Science and Technology and Payame Noor University, which is a positive point in the development of this field. Now that the fourth group of students in the field of scientometrics has reached the rank of the graduate student by taking the sixth year of the Master's Degree program, many demands are being made by the country's Society of Science and Technology. To meet these demands, some of the graduates in this field have been attracted to the labor market in the scientific and academic centers of the country, and others have started studying for a doctorate in knowledge and information science at the same time as employment. What is even more important is the growing dependence of the country's academic community, including research directors and researchers on the achievements of scientometrics, which doubles the need for the presence of capable scientometric specialists in this field. Providing consulting services to policymakers in the fields of science and technology, participating in evaluations, planning, and priorities of science and technology, participating in research, identifying and introducing the frontiers of knowledge and research fronts, monitoring the science and technology fields, and analyzing the gap between science and technology are among the expectations that are being demanded today from scientometric experts by the country's science and technology society.
Of course, in addition to the employment of a significant number of graduates in this field in scientific and academic centers, the recent establishments of private companies and emerging institutions by some other activists, graduates, and research experts to meet these needs and demands should be considered as one of the entrepreneurial activities of activists in this field. Undoubtedly, the presence of these companies and self-governing institutions in the research areas of science and technology policy is another sign of the capabilities of scientometrics a However, the further development of the field of scientometrics requires the redoubled efforts of professors, students, and especially the active graduates of this field. The role of academics in this field, as young and capable forces that have recently entered the field of research in this field, is important and it also reflects the great needs of society for services provided by scientometric experts. Conducting more qualitative research and more focused needs, especially in the field of foundations and issues in the field of scientometrics, is one of the most important internal needs of the field, which is felt more and more and is expected to provide methodologies and practical applications for scientometrics by relying on the capabilities of scholars and experts in the field. Therefore, training capable graduates, who are, in fact, the next generation of specialists in this field and will take on serious responsibilities in this field, is another important requirement that can provide the ground for growth and development of scientometrics and the continuation of this bright future.
That is why in the world of science, graduates are always expected to deepen their studies in specialized fields, identify existing damage, and try to further develop and flourish their field by providing new methods, strategies, and tools. Besides, it is the graduates of each discipline who must research to meet the needs of their audiences, which, in addition to being problem-oriented, can also be effective in solving the problems of their society. Undoubtedly, this is a serious task that always places a heavy burden on the skilled professionals and graduates of the field of scientometrics, and leads them to conduct more effective basic and applied research.