My Editor-in-Chief role will finish this month. I cannot believe that it has been six years. Time flies so fast, like light!

Seven years ago, I had a chance to discuss the need for a journal covering the full scope of optics and photonics for technically sound, original research articles with high technical accuracy, scientific rigor, and presentation quality, but without a requirement for impact or significant advances, a model similar to Scientific Reports, IEEE Access, AIP Advances, etc. This new journal would provide a diverse and transparent environment for new authors, such as early-career researchers, industrial researchers, and researchers from developing countries, with fewer barriers to publish, building a pathway for individuals interested in gaining publishing experience. The new journal also offered distinct options such as cascaded submissions (transfers) and transparent peer review. I was appointed as the founding Editor-in-Chief of OSA Continuum in March 2018. Its first issue, with 25 articles, was published in September 2018.

When I look back on six years as Editor-in-Chief, I remember so many unexpected things. The COVID pandemic (2020–2022) caused a significant drop in submissions. The rebranding of Optica in 2021 also led to changing the name of OSA Continuum to Optics Continuum in January 2022. A delay in receiving an Impact Factor also hindered some authors from submitting works to Optics Continuum. However, the dedicated efforts of all editorial members and Optica staff have been improving the status of Optics Continuum. To date, the Journal has published 2,500 + papers and now has an Impact Factor of 1.6!

In the beginning, most of the submissions were cascaded from the other Optica Publishing Group journals, and the acceptance rate was only 55%. A moderate number of submissions were rejected without review. Direct submissions are currently one-third of the total submissions, and the acceptance rate has increased to 65%.

We also provide a special benefit for authors who choose to transfer their manuscript and previous reviews to Optics Continuum. If the submission to Optics Continuum sufficiently addresses the previous reviewers’ concerns, except those involving judgements of significance or impact, and the paper satisfies our criteria of scientific rigor and technical accuracy, I strongly suggest that the Associate Editors accept the manuscript immediately without further review. Thus, we achieved a rapid time-to-publication period (∼ 65 days), which is the fastest among Optica Publishing Group’s journals. Optics Continuum has also just started to recognize high-quality papers with the new annual Best Paper Prize, launched last year.

As I step down as the Editor-in-Chief of Optics Continuum, I would like to convey my appreciation of the dedicated efforts of all editorial members and Optica staff to realize our mission to establish a high-quality, inclusive, and technically sound journal covering all optics and photonics. In particular, I would like to thank the Journal team: Erik Vartiainen, Deputy Editor (I will never forget your support); Kelly Cohen (I will never forget your timely response, even at nighttime); Nicole Williams-Jones, Theresa Miller, Ashwini Yelamanchili, and Rebecca Robinson, you have always managed the strategic portfolio of the Journal and have supported me with a professional manner via a monthly call. I would also like to thank the Associate Editors. They must use good judgement when making manuscript decisions and act in a timely manner while maintaining high standards of the Journal according to the technically sound criteria.

We are very happy to welcome Prof. Judith Dawes, a Fellow of Optica, as the next Editor-in-Chief to Optics Continuum. I have collaborated with Prof. Dawes for over 20 years. She is an active leader in the Australian and New Zealand optics and photonics community and respected worldwide for her expertise in lasers, nanophotonics, and plasmonics. She has served both as an Associate Editor for Optica and has contributed to the organization’s global strategy as a Director at Large of Optica. She has brilliant achievements in research and organization. I believe that she will continue to further grow the status of Optics Continuum under her strong leadership.