With the publication of the first volume with Springer in the Comprehensive Series in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences (CSPPS), we celebrate a new chapter in the dissemination of cutting-edge research at the intersection of light and life. This book series brings together authoritative contributions from leading experts in photochemistry and photobiology, offering comprehensive insights into both foundational principles and emerging innovations.
To mark this milestone, we spoke with the series editor, Dr. Massimo Trotta, about the vision behind the series, current trends shaping the field, and what readers can expect from the recent book and future publications. Check out the interview below.
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This book series welcomes proposals across photochemical and photobiological sciences, from molecular mechanisms and applied technologies to interdisciplinary approaches involving medicine, materials science, and environmental studies. 👉 Submit your proposal here or contact the Series Editor directly! |
1. What inspired the launch of the CSPPS series, and how does it aim to serve the scientific community working in these fields?
The European Society for Photobiology (ESP), a leading scientific association dedicated to educating and training early-stage researchers in photobiology, initiated the Comprehensive Series in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences (CSPPS).
This publishing endeavor, now in collaboration with Springer Nature, reflects ESP’s commitment to producing authoritative books for the global scientific community. The series focuses on disciplines where the interaction between natural or artificial light and biological systems is critical. This includes exploring anthropogenic effects such as climate change and the ozone hole, which significantly impact these light-biology systems. Equally important is the role that photochemistry can play in addressing environmental and health-related challenges, offering insights into current problems and low-impact solutions.
The importance of light-biology interactions is increasingly evident, given their transformative role in shaping the planet’s future. Photobiology intersects with many objectives of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the CSPPS series is committed to integrating these UN SDGs into its publications.
2. Photochemistry and photobiology are dynamic and interdisciplinary fields. What emerging trends or shifts in research focus have you observed recently, and how does the series aim to reflect or respond to these developments?
While it’s difficult to capture all emerging trends in these dynamic fields, several research pathways are gaining momentum and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.
One major area is Materials Science, particularly the development of materials based on chemical or biological entities that can convert solar light to address environmental and energy challenges. Beyond energy and environment, advances in photochemistry and photobiology are driving progress in remote sensing, food safety, and human and animal health.
The CSPPS series aims to capture these developments by publishing volumes that illustrate both the fundamental science and its practical applications.
3. The first book of the series with Springer has just been published. Can you tell us a bit about its focus and story behind the book?
I am personally extremely pleased with the outcome of the first volume in the series with Springer, which reflects two key factors. First, the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. María Gabriela Lagorio, a renowned Argentinian scientist in plant fluorescence. This collaboration began during the 20th ESP Congress in Lyon, following her insightful plenary lecture.
Second, the book’s content: eight chapters on the fluorescence of living plants, offering a detailed journey through chlorophyll fluorescence, its origins, and analytical methods. The chapter structure clearly demonstrates relevance to communities in remote sensing and plant ecology. This outcome represents a clear win-win situation for both the European Society for Photobiology (ESP) and the volume's editor.
4. Collaboration across disciplines is increasingly important. How does the series encourage contributions that bridge chemistry, biology, physics, and applied sciences?
Photobiology and photochemistry sit at the crossroads of chemistry, biology, biotechnology, physics, and applied sciences. The publication of the first book with Springer, Fluorescence of Living Plants, sets a strong example, in which the physics of the fluorescence phenomenon is translated in a biological response from the plants and eventually used in remote sensing applications. My intention as series editor, and together with our editorial board, which will grow in members and expertise, is to pursue multidisciplinary topics in the upcoming publications maintaining also a continuous interest in those stand-alone scientific topics that require dedicated volumes.
5. What’s next for the series, and how can researchers contribute?
The beauty of being series editor of CSPPS sits in the opportunity to always learn new things. The next book will discuss the applications of the Halide Perovskites for Solar Energy Conversion with the focus on Lead-free materials. In this book, edited by Silvia Colella and Andrea Listorti, chemistry, physics, and applied materials science are the bases for energy conversion applications. The book pipeline continues with the topic of biophotovoltaics and of microbial photoinactivation. The list of books is growing, and we hope to offer a variety of books on different topics in the upcoming years.
If you’re interested in contributing, reach out with a well-developed idea. We’ll work together to shape a strong proposal. Our goal is to maintain the highest scientific standards while broadening topics and geographic diversity among editors.