Discover Applied Sciences is a fully open access, broad-scope journal launched in 2018 under the former journal title SN Applied Sciences (2023 Impact Factor: 2.8). The journal is indexed in DOAJ, ESCI, Scopus and several other indexing services. The journal has Section editors for the various research disciplines covered by the journal. These are members of the academic leadership at the journal, advise the publisher on key developments in their field, and play an active role in the academic scope and in the development of the journal.

Dr. Yie Hua Tan joined the Discover Applied Sciences Editorial Board in 2019. She has always been keen to contribute towards the Journal's growth and development. She expressed her interest to increase her engagement with the journal and move to the role of a Section editor when we announced the position.

We had a brief discussion about the role and its responsibilities, and she graciously accepted to be the Section editor of the journal’s section Engineering with the focus on Chemical and Energy Engineering. 

Here's a short interview with our new Section Editor:

What is your current research focused on?

My work is now focused on the area of sustainable energy and environmental technologies, particularly on biomass use, biofuel processing and heterogeneous catalyst development. I am especially keen in developing waste-to-energy conversion technologies, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and bio-oil upgrading. The other important aspect of my work is wastewater treatment and process optimisation, i.e. designing efficient systems to remove hazardous waste in industrial effluents.

What are the most interesting emerging topics or new technologies/new developments in your field of research?

My field has a number of interesting developments. Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in process modelling and optimisation in chemical engineering are growing fast. Also, green hydrogen and power-to-liquid (PtL) are becoming a potential decarbonisation solution. The emergence of bi-functional and multi-functional catalysts in integrated bio-refining is being developed in catalysis. In the environmental front, the concept of circular economy, especially in valorising industrial waste and biomass residues, still presents new research opportunities.

Tell us about your role as an Editorial Board Member (EBM) on the journal Discover Applied Sciences and your vision as a Section Editor, and what made you want to take up this role!  

I aim to select the content that will connect the basic science with the engineering practice, especially in green technologies and energy systems. I accepted this position because I am convinced of the potential of open-access publishing to democratise knowledge and to speed up innovation. It is also a good chance to make a contribution to the development of the course of scholarly communication in applied sciences.

Do you have any advice for new members of the board?

Yes, remain actively involved with the current trends in your field and be willing to work across disciplines. As members of the board, we have a very important role in ensuring the integrity and quality of the journal. It is important to give constructive and timely feedback to authors, and to promote innovative but methodologically rigorous research. In addition, connecting with other editors and reviewers may also give you new insights and make your scholarly experience more rewarding.

What do you enjoy most or look forward to about your work on the journal?

My favourite part is that I get to find and promote the latest research worldwide. It is satisfying to assist authors in making their manuscripts better and to witness good contributions receive the attention they deserve. I am also excited to work with a multicultural and skilled editorial team to maintain the influence and relevance of the journal in the applied sciences environment.

Lovely to have you onboard in this new role, Dr. Tan, and I am sure your contribution will help the journal reach new heights!