Abstract

Abstract Although the community has faced an unprecedented year, I am pleased to report that JMR is thriving and remains on a growth trajectory. While the lives of many were seriously impacted by the pandemic, our community has been resilient. Last year, in 2020, JMR had a record number of submissions (over 600) and is on track to meet this mark again this year. Thanks to the hard work of our Editorial Board, reviewers, and ASME staff, paper review and publication has also remained on track. As we approach the mid-point of this challenging year, in addition to expressing thanks for everyone's hard work, I would like to take this opportunity to share a few recent initiatives aimed at making JMR one of the top journals in mechanisms and robotics (MR).