[3] The goal of the editorial committee was to produce critical review articles that condensed a large volume of research into a final product usable by students, specialists, and non-specialists.

[12] Each volume begins with a prefatory chapter of the biography or autobiography of a notable scientist within the field.

All other members of the editorial committee are appointed by the Annual Reviews board of directors and serve five-year terms.

The editorial committee determines which topics should be included in each volume and solicits reviews from qualified authors.

[16] Dates indicate publication years in which someone was credited as a lead editor or co-editor of a journal volume.