title: Editorial.
abstract: Focus Issues: a Second Anniversary Note: Two years ago, in August 1997, we published 5 articles grouped under the heading "Mid-IR Laser Materials." These articles introduced Focus Issues into peer-reviewed science publishing. It seems to me that the Second Anniversary of that event merits notice and maybe a small celebration. Steven Bowman coordinated the first one, and since then we have published 25 other Focus Issues with 4-10 articles each, and other journals are beginning to try them. Focus Coordinators of future issues are certainly among the readers of this short note. I'll say more about that at the end, so read on.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eberly