Discover Stories sharing-in celebration of the 5th Anniversary-Batch 2
Published in Chemistry, Materials, and Sustainability
This post is part of the “Celebrating Five Years of the Discover Journals” series, highlighting Discover journals and the people who have played a key role in shaping their development. The series aims to spotlight the leadership, values, and vibrant communities behind the journals.
We invited several EBMs to share their unique stories with Discover, and here is the second batch!
From Discover Sustainability – Dr Rudolf Pretorius – Section Editor
"I have been part of Discover Sustainability since its inception in 2020, when the journal was first launched by Springer Nature. I joined through an invitation from Prof. Walter Leal Filho, with whom I have enjoyed a long-standing research collaboration and a shared passion for sustainability. Becoming involved at the very start of the journal was both an honor and an exciting opportunity to help shape a new platform dedicated to sustainability scholarship.
I chose to join Discover because I believe researchers have a responsibility to use their knowledge and skills in ways that contribute in a positive way to society and help to make the world a better place for all. My editorial work for Discover Sustainability, in my view, is not only an academic role; it is also an opportunity to help build a credible platform where high-quality sustainability research can reach scholars, policy-makers, and practitioners, while ensuring that published work meets rigorous standards.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being an editor has been the mentoring dimension of the role. Beyond making accept/reject decisions, I value engaging with authors on the crucial improvements needed before publication and then receiving their appreciative feedback. Seeing a manuscript become stronger through constructive editorial guidance is deeply satisfying.
A memorable part of my Discover journey has been coordinating three successful topical collections—two on Sustainable Development in the Global South and one on Geo-information Science for Sustainable Development. These collaborations reinforced my belief that the best sustainability work emerges through partnership.
As Discover Sustainability celebrates five years, I hope it will continue to grow as a truly global, inclusive, and influential voice for sustainability scholarship. "
From Discover Chemical Engineering- Prof Fanxing Li –Section Editor
"I learned about Discover Chemical Engineering in October 2020, when I was invited to join the founding editorial team as an Associate Editor. I accepted since it was an excellent opportunity to help build a new open-access journal from the beginning. I was also attracted by its broad coverage of chemical engineering, the support from Springer Nature, and the leadership of Professor Sang Yup Lee.
One of my first activities was organizing the topical collection “Chemical Looping Combustion and Beyond,” which is closely related to my own research. I remember receiving an email shortly before the original deadline saying that the collection had not received any submissions. That was probably my most memorable experience with the journal! Starting a new journal is never easy, and it took repeated outreach and considerable help from the editorial team. In the end, the collection published ten articles covering different aspects of chemical looping. It was very satisfying to see it gradually came together.
Over the past five years, the journal has grown substantially and become much more visible. Going forward, I hope it will continue to build its reputation and become a highly recognized journal in chemical engineering. True to its name, I believe Discover Chemical Engineering can also help identify and shape emerging directions for the field. "
From Discover Psychology - Dr Jazmín Cevasco – Section Editor
"When I first came across Discover Psychology, I appreciated the journal's openness to interdisciplinary research, and its goal of making Psychology accessible to a broad audience. Given that my research draws on educational psychology, psycholinguistics, and cognitive psychology, I found it to be a great venue for bringing together different disciplines & perspectives.
Over the years, my connection with the journal has grown. I had the privilege of publishing two articles: one discussing the current state and future directions of psychological science in Argentina (my country), and another exploring the development of psychoeducational materials to prevent gender-based violence in Latin America. I have also served as a reviewer, and currently as a Section Editor.
Receiving the Discover Editor Award makes me feel grateful & motivated to continue promoting rigorous, interdisciplinary psychological research. I would especially like to thank Professor Ahmed Moustafa for the confidence he has placed in me. His commitment to fostering an inclusive and internationally diverse scientific community is one of the reasons I value being part of Discover Psychology.
As Discover Psychology celebrates its anniversary, I hope it continues to expand and bring together researchers from diverse backgrounds, and contribute to the publication of work that makes a meaningful contribution to both science and society. "
From Discover Energy- Dr Dornadula Chandrasekharam –Section Editor
- "How did you meet Discover?
I have been invited to join the team
- Why did you choose to join Discover?
It is a young and upcoming journal for energy and I thought I can contribute for its up-bringing. I am successful in this attempt as I could encourage reputed authors to submit their work
- Do you have any special/funny stories with Discover?
Nothing specific. I have a good rapport with the editorial team that I cashed on to build the journal
- What are your plans or expectations for Discover moving forward?
I want this journal to be the front runner for green energy research work, especially geothermal as research in this field is taking a huge upsurge in the recent past.
- Any other topics or perspectives are welcomed
Awards come and go but to build a journal requires a team work. Reviewers are the back-bone in this journey and selecting the right reviewers is a challenging task for the editors. Rejecting a MS is very easy but how to make it improve is a challenge the editors should do take."
Please stay tuned for more stories in batch 3!
Follow the Topic
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Discover Psychology
This is an international, open access journal that publishes research in behavioral sciences and related fields, including health, environment, neuroscience, business, economics, ergonomics, linguistics, and education.
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Discover Chemical Engineering
This is a broad, open access journal publishing research from across all fields relevant to chemical engineering, providing cutting-edge research findings to researchers, academicians, students, and engineers.
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Discover Sustainability
A multi-disciplinary, open access, community-focussed journal publishing results from across all fields relevant to sustainability research whilst supporting policy developments that address all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Discover Energy
This is an open access, community-focussed journal publishing research from across the full range of disciplines concerned with energy.
What are SDG Topics?
An introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Topics and their role in highlighting sustainable development research.
Continue reading announcementRelated Collections
With Collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.
Food, Societies and Sustainability: Contemporary Concerns around Local Food Production and Consumption
Food goes far beyond nutrition. It reflects sociocultural identities and territorial heritage, consumption dynamics, economic development, public policies, sustainability concerns, food production, distribution and consumption. Understanding food production and food products, practices and strategies offers key insights into both historical traditions and contemporary lifestyles. Around the world, food and drink serve as powerful symbols of identity and attract interest through diverse value chains, economic interests and cultural expressions. On the other hand, traditional and local food systems contribute to cultural heritage, biodiversity conservation and sustainability matters from environmental, sociocultural and economic concerns.
The Collection "Food, societies and sustainability: Contemporary concerns around local food production and consumption" explores how food is locally produced, promoted and protected through public and private initiatives, food-based experiences, media platforms, and sustainable dietary and productive practices. It encourages contributions that examine how food concerns are shaped in contemporary societies, how globalization is affecting local food cultures, emphasizing the role of food as both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Food preferences, food stereotypes, and attitudes towards food sustainability, analysed through the lenses of generational gaps and gender differences are also welcomed. This Collection seeks original research and case studies using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Keywords: Food Systems, Food culture, Food Production, Locality, Heritage, Tourism, Gastronomy, Agricultural Biodiversity, Livestock Biodiversity, Food Sustainability, Regenerative Tourism.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 10, SDG 12, and SDG 17.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Sep 30, 2026
Weather and Climate Extremes: A Special Reference to Multidisciplinary Research and Policy Developments
This Collection, titled "Weather and Climate Extremes: A Special Reference to Multidisciplinary Research and Policy Developments," focuses on the increasing global challenges posed by extreme weather events and climate phenomena. As these events intensify due to changing climate patterns, their impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, human health, and socioeconomic systems become more pronounced, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing these complexities.
The Collection aims to bring together research from diverse fields, including atmospheric sciences, hydrology, ecology, engineering, public health, and social sciences. It encourages innovative contributions that explore cutting-edge solutions to predict, manage, and mitigate the effects of climate extremes. Topics may include advanced modelling techniques, nature-based solutions, climate-resilient infrastructure, risk assessment frameworks, and strategies for equitable policy development. The emphasis is placed on integrating scientific understanding with actionable solutions that address vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation.
Moreover, this Collection seeks to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation. By highlighting case studies, theoretical advancements, and practical approaches, it aims to advance the dialogue on climate resilience and inform decision-making processes globally. This platform aspires to serve as a critical resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers striving to navigate the escalating challenges of a changing climate.
Given the increasing frequency and intensity of climate extremes, this topic holds critical importance. Such extremes profoundly affect ecosystems, infrastructure, and human livelihoods, demanding coordinated efforts across disciplines to analyse risks, develop mitigation strategies, and inform policy. This Collection seeks to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from diverse fields, bridging scientific understanding and actionable policy frameworks. The proposed focus areas include, but are not limited to:
• Advances in modelling and forecasting weather and climate extremes
• Impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and public health
• Nature-based solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure
• Interdisciplinary frameworks for risk management and adaptation planning
• Policy advancements addressing vulnerability, resilience, and equity
This call aims to engage a broad community of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to enhance global discourse and support evidence-based decision-making by emphasising multidisciplinary contributions.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG
Keywords: Weather Extremes Modeling; Climate Change Impacts; Risk Assessment Frameworks; Nature-Based Solutions (NbS); Resilient Infrastructure Design; Equitable Policy Development; Interdisciplinary Climate Research; Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies; Socioeconomic Vulnerability Analysis; Extreme Event Forecasting
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Feb 28, 2027
