The open access articles featured in this celebratory collection have been selected for the great impact they have achieved in such a short period of time.

From achieving high downloads and citations to receiving significant media coverage, these papers show how our TA in Ireland is increasing the visibility and impact of scientific research.

Join your fellow researchers who are shaping the future of science, and your articles could also be featured in news outlets such as The Irish Times, The Express and Phys.org.

Find out if your institution is participating in this agreement to make sure your next paper gets the greatest exposure.

Is your institution not currently part of our IReL agreement? You can recommend a transformative agreement to your librarian here.

 

 

Read the Irish articles making an impact across our journal portfolio

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Paper  |  Open Access
Multiparameter critical quantum metrology with impurity probes
George Mihailescu, University College Dublin et al
2024 Quantum Sci. Technol. 9 035033 https://doi.org/10.1088/2058-9565/ad438d

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Note |  Open Access
Survival and maturation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic progenitors in the parkinsonian rat brain is enhanced by transplantation in a neurotrophin-enriched hydrogel
Eilís Dowd, University of Galway et al
2024 J. Neural Eng. 21 024002 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ad33b2

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Letter |  Open Access
Operator growth and spread complexity in open quantum systems
Eoin Carolan, University College Dublin et al
2024 EPL. 147 38002 https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/ad5b17

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Paper  |  Open Access
Hidden in plain sight: hyperspectral documentation of complex biofluorescence produced by the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis)
Thomas Juhasz-Dora, University College Cork et al
2024 Methods Appl. Fluoresc. 12 025002 https://doi.org/10.1088/2050-6120/ad232e

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Topical Review  |  Open Access
Fetal monitoring technologies for the detection of intrapartum hypoxia – challenges and opportunities
Nadia Muhammad Hussain, University of Galway et al
2024 Biomed. Phys. Eng. Express. 10 022002 https://doi.org/10.1088/2057-1976/ad17a6

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Paper  |  Open Access
Reprogrammable metasurface design for NIR beam steering and active filtering
Hodjat Hajian, Trinity College Dublin et al
2024 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 57 415108 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ad626c

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Topical Review|  Open Access
Micromixing strategies for efficient mixing processes: a comprehensive review
Delara Soltani, Technological University Dublin et al
2024 J. Micromech. Microeng. 34 113001 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6439/ad809a

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Paper |  Open Access
From lab to life: assessing the impact of real-world interactions on the operation of rapid serial visual presentation-based brain-computer interfaces
Muhammad Ahsan Awais, Dublin City University et al
2024 J. Neural Eng. 21 046011 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ad5d17

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Technical Note |  Open Access
Facilities and practices for linear response Hubbard parameters U and J in Abinit
Lórien MacEnulty, University of Dublin et al
2024 Electron. Struct. 6 037003 https://doi.org/10.1088/2516-1075/ad610f

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Paper  |  Open Access
Valley edge states with opposite chirality in temperature dependent acoustic media
Muhammad Gulzari, University of Galway et al
2024 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 57 345303 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ad4f9a

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Paper  |  Open Access
Accelerating P300-based neurofeedback training for attention enhancement using iterative learning control: a randomised controlled trial
S-C Noble, Maynooth University et al
2024 J. Neural Eng. 21 026006 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ad2c9e

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Paper  |  Open Access
Multiphoton single and double ionization of neon in the EUV
Stephen M Durkan, Dublin City University et al
2024 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 58 015601 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6455/ad4078

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Paper  |  Open Access
Melt electrowriting of poly(-caprolactone)—poly(ethylene glycol) backbone polymer blend scaffolds with improved hydrophilicity and functionality
Conor Darroch, Trinity College Dublin et al
2024 Biomed. Mater. 19 055011 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-605X/ad5b41

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Paper  |  Open Access
Theoretical study of the temperature dependence of Auger–Meitner recombination in (Al,Ga)N quantum wells
Joshua M McMahon, University College Cork et al
2024 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 37 095501 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/ad98d9

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Paper  |  Open Access
Simulating atherosclerotic plaque mechanics using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cryogel artery phantoms, ultrasound imaging and inverse finite element analysis
Yasmine Guendouz, Trinity College Dublin et al
2024 Phys. Med. Biol. 69 245020 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ad9a4b

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Paper  |  Open Access
Nonlinear effects at the electrode-tissue interface of deep brain stimulation electrodes
K Sridhar, University College Dublin et al
2024 J. Neural Eng. 21 016024 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ad2582

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Paper  |  Open Access
Electromagnetohydrodynamic flow through a periodically grooved channel
Mainendra Kumar Dewangan and Tim Persoons, Trinity College Dublin
2024 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 57 165002 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ad2007

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Paper |  Open Access
Numerical simulation of a nebulizer with multiple orifices
Zexuan Chen (陈泽譞), University of Limerick et al
2024 J. Micromech. Microeng. 34 085016 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6439/ad6779

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Paper  |  Open Access
Enhancing the performance of a resonance-based sensor network for soft robots using binary excitation
Kevin Chubb, Technological University Dublin et al
2024 Bioinspir. Biomim. 20 016002 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/ad8c08

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Paper |  Open Access
Electrochemical synthesis of 2D-silver nanodendrites functionalized with cyclodextrin for SERS-based detection of herbicide MCPA
Robert Daly, University College Cork et al
2024 Nanotechnology. 35 285704 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/ad373c

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The open access articles featured in this celebratory collection have been selected for the great impact they have achieved in such a short period of time.

From achieving high downloads and citations to receiving significant media coverage, these papers show how our TA in South Africa is increasing the visibility and impact of scientific research.

Join your fellow researchers who are shaping the future of science, and your articles could also be featured in news outlets such as The Guardian, The Conversation and Phys.org.

Find out if your institution is participating in this agreement to make sure your next paper gets the greatest exposure.

Is your institution not currently part of our SANLiC agreement? You can recommend a transformative agreement to your librarian here.

 

 

Read the South African articles making an impact across our journal portfolio

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Paper  |  Open Access
Interacting dark energy: clarifying the cosmological implications and viability conditions
Marcel A. van der Westhuizen and Amare Abebe, North-West University
2024 JCAP. 01 (2024)048 https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2024/01/048

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Topical Review |  Open Access
Application of novel hybrid deep learning architectures combining Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN): construction duration estimates prediction considering preconstruction uncertainties
Belachew A Demiss and Walied A Elsaigh, University of South Africa (UNISA)
2024 Eng. Res. Express. 6 032102 https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-8695/ad6ca7

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Paper |  Open Access
Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles using Ligustrum lucidum extract, and the antioxidant and antifungal evaluation
Damian C Onwudiwe, North-West University et al
2024 Mater. Res. Express. 11 055010 https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad4e9d

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Paper  |  Open Access
Structural and antibacterial properties of copper oxide nanoparticles: a study on the effect of calcination temperature
Sarah Constance Motshekga, University of South Africa (UNISA)
2024 Nano Ex. 5 015011 https://doi.org/10.1088/2632-959X/ad228d

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Paper  |  Open Access
Relativistic and wide-angle corrections to galaxy power spectra
Sheean Jolicoeur, Stellenbosch University et al
2024 JCAP. 08 (2024)027 https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2024/08/027

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Paper  |  Open Access
Comparative electrochemical properties of polyaniline/carbon quantum dots nanocomposites modified screen-printed carbon and gold electrodes
Omolola E Fayemi, North-West University et al
2024 Mater. Res. Express. 10 125603 https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad176e

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Paper |  Open Access
UiO-66@Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite as an adsorbent in dispersive solid phase extraction of metformin in surface water and wastewater
Abigail Goitumetswe Sekopelo, University of Johannesburg et al
2024 Nano Ex. 5 025011 https://doi.org/10.1088/2632-959X/ad461c

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Letter |  Open Access
Socio-environmental impacts of mineral mining and conflicts in Southern and West Africa: navigating reflexive governance for environmental justice
Llewellyn Leonard, University of South Africa (UNISA)
2024 Environ. Res. Lett. 19 104013 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad7047

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Topical Review  |  Open Access
Agro waste reinforcement of metal matrix composites, a veritable sustainable engineering achievement, or an effort in futility? A critical review
Festus Ben and Peter A Olubambi, University of Johannesburg
2024 Mater. Res. Express. 11 062004 https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad5642

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Paper  |  Open Access
Propagation of uncertainty for an epipole-dependent model for convergent stereovision structure computation
Ifeanyi F Ezebili and Kristiaan Schreve, Stellenbosch University
2024 Meas. Sci. Technol. 35 045032 https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/ad20bf

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Paper  |  Open Access
Characterization of banana powder-based film reinforced with CNF and Bio-mediated ZnO nanoparticles for potential food applications
Tshiamo B Leta, University of Johannesburg et al
2024 Mater. Res. Express. 11 055402 https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad43c1

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Paper  |  Open Access
Influence of posture during gliding flight in the flying lizard Draco volans
Valentin Buffa, University of the Witwatersrand et al
2024 Bioinspir. Biomim. 19 026008 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/ad1dbb

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Paper  |  Open Access
Investigation of the thermodynamic, structural, electronic, mechanical and phonon properties of D0c Ru-based intermetallic alloys: an ab-initio study
B O Mnisi, University of South Africa (UNISA) et al
2024 Mater. Res. Express. 11 046506 https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad3a40

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Letter  |  Open Access
On the role of interconnected mini-grids in net-zero emissions electricity system: insights from Nigeria
Joel Yongoua Nana and Michael O Dioha, University of Cape Town
2024 Environ. Res. Lett. 19 034014 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad259f

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Paper  |  Open Access
X-ray diffraction profile analysis of green synthesized ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles
Mawethu P Bilibana, North-West University et al
2024 Mater. Res. Express. 11 075011 https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad63ff

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Letter  |  Open Access
Impacts of water, energy, and food nexus challenges on household vulnerability: the case of Harare City, Zimbabwe
C P Gandidzanwa and M Togo, University of South Africa (UNISA)
2024 Environ. Res. Lett. 19 114038 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad7bcd

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Paper  |  Open Access
Pneumatic extrusion bioprinting-based high throughput fabrication of a melanoma 3D cell culture model for anti-cancer drug screening
Maryke de Villiers, North-West University et al
2024 Biomed. Mater. 19 055034 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-605X/ad651f

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Paper |  Open Access
Foreground biases in strong gravitational lensing
Daniel Johnson, University of Cape Town et al
2024 JCAP. 10 (2024)055 https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2024/10/055

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Paper  |  Open Access
Ferrock cement and oxalic acid for enhanced concrete strength and durability against sulphate attack
Bahiru Bewket Mitikie, University of South Africa (UNISA) et al
2024 Eng. Res. Express. 6 025122 https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-8695/ad592a

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Topical Review |  Open Access
Climate change adaptation by smallholder farmers in Southern Africa: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review
Dumisani Shoko Kori, University of Johannesburg et al
2024 Environ. Res. Commun. 6 032002 https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad3127

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Dr Antti Hakola works as a principal scientist and project manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. He has several years of experience in fusion physics and technology, mainly on plasma wall interactions and material migration in the edge plasmas of fusion reactors. He is also active within the EUROfusion Consortium, being one of the deputy Task Force Leaders of its Tokamak Exploitation Task Force. His article Gross and net erosion balance of plasma-facing materials in full-W tokamaks was published in Nuclear Fusion, under the transformative agreement with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

“My employer VTT has chosen open access (OA) as the default option for publishing scientific articles.  Also the main funding body of my research, the EUROfusion Consortium, requires all research outcomes to be disseminated as openly – and publicly – as possible. With this in mind, I did not even think about any other way than OA for getting the above-mentioned article out.

The piece of work has been a useful and appreciated reference for many follow-up studies, not only by myself but also by several of my colleagues working in the field worldwide. I would claim that the results reported therein have increased our collaboration opportunities, for example as invites to contribute to even more extensive summary papers and giving talks in various conferences. Indeed: the process has born fruit now after all these years when the article has been available for the community!

The process of publishing the article went smoothly despite the many Covid-related restrictions that we were facing at the time and was comparable to previous positive experiences with IOPP. I would warmly welcome OA to anyone who has an important set of results to be communicated and who is constantly looking forward to expanding their R&D network.”

How do we decide on the topics we cover?
The journal Publisher selects the theme and appoints a Lead Guest Editor in consultation with the journal editorial team and research integrity team. Focus Collections may centre on well-established topics where a substantial body of high-quality research exists, serving to highlight the key work for an engaged audience. Or they may explore emerging areas of study, helping to raise awareness and stimulate interest in promising new sub-fields. When a topic is decided, a variety of article types published in the journal can be included in a focus collection. For each focus collection, the Publisher and Guest Editor discuss which article types can be considered in the focus collection. Typically, focus collections include original research papers and topical reviews.

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Can a Focus Collection involve more than one IOP Publishing journal?
Yes, Focus Collections can include journals across the IOP Publishing portfolio as long as it is relevant to the collection theme.

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Can the deadline be extended for the Focus Collection? 
We typically keep the collection open for submissions long enough to allow for one or two rounds of invitations, if required. If authors require additional time, deadline extensions may be possible. In such cases, authors should contact the Guest Editor or the journal’s mailbox to discuss their request.

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Do all the articles need to be accepted for publication before the Focus Collection is published? 
No, we do not wait for all articles to be accepted before publishing the collection. Each collection has its own dedicated webpage, and articles are automatically added as soon as they have been accepted and published. This means the collection grows over time, giving readers access to new content as it becomes available while ensuring that earlier work remains visible and accessible.

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How do Focus Collections differ from post-publication collections?

• Focus Collections are led by a team of expert Guest Editors who curate a set of articles centred around a specific theme. Guest Editors invite authors to specifically contribute to the Focus Collection.
• Post-publication collections are assembled after articles have already been published. They group together existing content around a common theme to increase visibility, but they do not involve Guest Editors or invited submissions. Additionally, papers included in post-publication collections will not be removed from Focus Collections.

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What steps are involved in creating a Focus Collection?

For more specific Focus Collection information, contact the journal to which you plan to submit your work.

1. Choosing the theme
The journal (or journals for collections spanning more than one title) Publisher selects the theme and appoints a Lead Guest Editor in consultation with the journal editorial team and research integrity team. Suggestions often come from:

• The journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Executive and Editorial Board
• Conferences and workshops
• Community feedback
• The journal’s in-house editorial team

2. Building the editorial team
The Lead Guest Editor may suggest co-Guest Editors in partnership with the Publisher, considering diversity in terms of geography and gender identity to fairly represent the community. Suggested Guest Editors will be reviewed by the Publisher, in consultation with our editorial and research integrity teams. This requires no additional action but ensures that all contributions meet the high standards expected by IOP Publishing.

We ask all Guest Editors to confirm they follow our data protection policy, only use the data for its intended purpose and keep it stored safely. We also need each Guest Editor to confirm they have no conflicts of interest.

3. Planning the collection
Guest Editors collaborate to define the scope including article types that can be considered and identify potential contributors, completing a proposal form provided by the Publisher.

4. Review and approval
The proposal is reviewed by the Publisher who performs editorial and integrity checks, and, in some cases, the Editor-in-Chief and/or Editorial Board.

5. Compiling the collection
Once approved, we will create a dedicated webpage to showcase the Focus Collection. The Guest Editors and Publisher collaborate to curate content for the Focus Collection. Guest Editors send invitations to selected authors and follow-up invitations are sent by the Publisher, with author guidelines.

6. Launching the collection
We work with Guest Editors to promote the Focus Collection to our networks. Most Focus Collections welcome contributed papers as well as invited papers.

7. Peer review process
All submissions undergo the same rigorous peer review as regular journal articles, managed by our in-house editorial team. In some cases, Guest Editors may be approached for advice; for example, when two reviewer reports provide conflicting information.

8. Final steps
Guest Editors may be invited to write a short Editorial to introduce the collection before it is closed. Once complete, the collection is published and actively promoted to the community to enhance visibility and readership.

9. Watch your collection grow!
Track new articles as they’re published and see how your Focus Collection builds a rich picture of research in your area.

Timeline
From initial planning to publication, the process typically takes 15–18 months.

By taking the lead on an IOP Publishing Focus Collection, you have a unique opportunity to shape the conversation in your area of research. It provides you with a chance to elevate your professional profile, expand your network and contribute meaningfully to the academic community.

As a Guest Editor, you will…

Influence research direction and promote emerging areas in your field

You will curate high-quality, relevant research that addresses key topics in your area. This is your chance to shape the conversation within your community.

Enhance your visibility

Editing an IOP Publishing Focus Collection positions you as a leader in your field. It associates your name with a specific research theme and enhances the visibility of your own work, helping you reach a wider audience.

Gain hands-on experience in academic publishing

You will collaborate with experienced editorial teams and gain valuable insight into the publishing process — from peer review to final publication. As we handle the full peer review process, the experience is both manageable and rewarding. Additionally, we often consider past Guest Editors for positions available on our Editorial Boards.

Expand your global network

Connect with a diverse, international community of researchers. As a Guest Editor, you will build meaningful relationships that can lead to future collaborations and new research opportunities.

Additionally, Guest Editors are recognised on the focus collection webpage and upon completion of a successful focus collection, guest editors are given a certificate.

How do we choose Guest Editors?

We select Guest Editors based on their positions as leaders and/or up-and-coming researchers in a field, and demonstration of upholding research integrity standards in their research activities. Additionally, we often ask the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial board for their recommendations.

If you’re considering proposing a Focus Collection, we recommend reaching out to the relevant journal’s editorial team via the journals email inbox to discuss your idea further.

What is the role of a Guest Editor on an IOP Publishing Collection?

Launching a Focus Collection

Focus Collections typically involve 2—6 Guest Editors, although this may vary depending on the scope. Guest Editors are appointed, subject to passing internal checks, by the journal Publisher and Editorial board; with the lead Guest Editor usually consulted for their suggestions.

We will support you to ensure diversity in geography and gender to reflect the global research community, and on advising authors on aligning with our ethical policies. Editorial Board members may also serve as Guest Editors.

All named Guest Editors are expected to actively contribute to the development of the Focus Collection.

We expect all Guest Editors to confirm that they comply with our data protection policy, only use data provided for necessary purposes and will store data securely. Guest Editors must also confirm they have no conflicts of interest.

Setting up the Focus Collection

As we handle the full peer-review process, we do not demand as much of a time commitment as other publishers, but Guest Editors will be responsible for:

• Defining the title and scope of the Focus Collection
• Setting a submission deadline in agreement with the Publisher
• Compiling a list of potential contributors to invite to submit to the collection.

They may also provide a high-quality image for the collection’s webpage (ensuring all necessary permissions are obtained).

All Focus Collection proposals are reviewed by the Publisher and, occasionally, the Editor-in-Chief. Once the scope is approved, a dedicated webpage will be created on the journal website, and the Focus Collection will open for submissions via our submission platform.

Inviting authors

As Guest Editor, you will identify and invite authors working in the relevant field. Please provide us with their full name, email address and institution for suitability review and discussion. This information will be stored in accordance with our data protection policies. Guest Editors must keep us informed about who they are inviting and share any responses received from authors.

We encourage Guest Editors to:

• Ensure that the list of invited authors reflects geographical diversity and gender balance wherever possible.
• Send the initial invitations to authors. We will follow up with reminders to those who have not responded. Authors are usually given approximately 6 months from the date of invitation to submit their article, with extensions available upon request.
• Help publicize the collection more broadly and encourage open call contributions from relevant research communities (note that occasionally, Focus Collections will be by invitation only. This will be clearly defined in the scope). Guest Editors are welcome to promote the Focus Collection on their social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Bluesky, WeChat or on networking sites such as ResearchGate.

Guest Editors are welcome to contribute to the collection, subject to conditions and limitations. The Publisher will support and advise.

Peer review

All submissions to Focus Collections undergo the same rigorous peer review process as those in our regular issues. This process is overseen and administered by our in-house journal editorial team to ensure the highest standards of quality and integrity. The journal reserves the right to reject submissions, including invited submissions, that do not comply with the journal’s policies and IOP Publishing ethical policies.

Guest Editors may be approached for advice in certain cases, such as:

• Conflicting information in reports from two reviewers
• Unclear match to the scope of the collection, requiring a preliminary report.
• Difficulty securing two independent referee reports.

You can also read our detailed reviewer guidelines.

Closing the Focus Collection

Articles are published online upon acceptance and added to the collection webpage.

The Focus Collection will be closed after the deadline, provided we are not waiting for more expected submissions. If necessary, the deadline may be extended in consultation with the Publisher. Please note that we reserve the right to close the collection to new submissions before the stated deadline. In such cases, we will notify you in writing.

Once the Focus Collection is ready to be closed, Guest Editors may be invited to write a short Editorial article summarizing the contributions to the collection.

FAQs for Guest Editors

Are Guest Editors expected to conduct peer review?
Guest Editors do not have any primary reviewing responsibilities. When contributions are submitted and reviewed, Guest Editors may be approached for advice in certain cases, such as:

• Conflicting information in reports from two reviewers
• Provide a preliminary report detailing whether a contribution fits the scope of the Collection
• Difficulty securing two independent referee reports.

Can Guest Editors co-author contributions to Focus Collections?
Yes, Guest Editors are both welcome and encouraged to contribute to Focus Collections. However, to maintain ethical standards, we would advise that no more than 20% of the overall number of published articles in the Focus Collection can be authored by any of the Guest Editors. This is to avoid cases where the majority of a Focus Collection is made up of publications from the Guest Editor.

By agreeing to become a Guest Editor, you will be taken as having agreed to our terms of engagement and Data Protection policy. Please review these documents to ensure your role and responsibilities.

What is an IOP Publishing Focus Collection?

A Focus Collection is a curated set of articles centred around a specific theme that could be associated by topic, field, geography, institution, conference or event. These collections are led by Guest Editors — leaders or up-and-coming researchers in their field — and designed to spotlight high-quality research and foster meaningful discussion within the scientific community. These collections can also span multiple IOP Publishing journals where they are relevant to the editorial theme. Our Focus Collections fully adhere to industry best practice guidelines, including those set by COPE and DOAJ, ensuring that the research published in them meets the highest standards of scientific and ethical integrity.

Why publish in a Focus Collection?

When you contribute your work to a Focus Collection, you can:

• Increase the visibility of your research: When you submit to a Focus Collection, your article is published upon acceptance in a regular issue of the journal. It will then be labelled with the Focus Collection tag and featured on a dedicated webpage alongside other papers in the collection, making it easier for readers to discover your work. On average, Focus Collection papers are 78% more likely to be downloaded within the first 60 days compared to standard issue articles, and receive 55% more citations.
• Join a community of experts: Focus Collections align with the aims and scope of the journal and are organized by Guest Editors who are specialists in their field, ensuring your work is part of a high-impact, relevant conversation. These collections also offer a valuable opportunity to connect and collaborate with other researchers. Guest Editors may be members of the journal’s Editorial Board, or they may be members of the journal’s community.
• Be featured among trusted research: Our Focus Collections undergo the same rigorous peer review and research integrity checks as regular articles, overseen by our internal editorial teams. With compliance to COPE and DOAJ industry standards, you can trust that your work is published in a collection committed to research integrity and excellence.
• Work with a publisher that puts purpose above profit: We are a leading society publisher of advanced physics research and any profits generated are invested back into science. We promise that by publishing your work with us, it will benefit the scientific community, not shareholders. Find out more about our Purpose-Led Publishing initiative here.

Whether you’re contributing to a themed issue or responding to a call for papers, publishing in a Focus Collection is a great way to amplify your research and connect with peers in your field.

Why become a Guest Editor? Focus Collections FAQ

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Sunny Vagnozzi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Trento. His article, “Horizon-scale tests of gravity theories and fundamental physics from the Event Horizon Telescope image of Sagittarius A*”, was published under the transformative agreement with the CRUI consortium in Italy. 

What inspired you to choose open access (OA) for your latest research?
The fact that OA would allow my article to be disseminated more rapidly and efficiently. The transformative agreement (TA) was essential, as without it I wouldn’t have been able to cover the OA funds, since at the time I did not have a grant to cover for this. 

Can you describe any noticeable impact your OA publication has had such as increased visibility, citations, or engagement with your work? 
I would have said that the huge number of citations received by my work is certainly at least in part a result of OA. 

How did the process of publishing through the TA compare to your previous publishing experiences? 
I wouldn’t say the publication process in itself was different. It was very streamlined, at some point I received an email saying that the TA covering had been approved, and that the organization covering the OA fees through the TA would receive the invoice directly. I didn’t have to do anything else, so it was all rather simple for me. 

Can you share a moment when you realised the value of making your research freely available to access around the world? 
I realize it every day, when I see the huge impact my paper has, and the diversity of researchers around the world who are citing it. 

What would you say to other researchers considering publishing OA through a TA?
Definitely go for it! 

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Yahya Choonara is a professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, and the Chair and Head of the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) Research Unit. His article Tannic acid-loaded chitosan-RGD-alginate scaffolds for wound healing and skin regeneration was published under the transformative agreement with the South African National Library and Information Consortium (SANLiC).

What inspired you to choose open access (OA) for your latest research, and how did the transformative agreement support that decision? 

OA was selected as it offers increased visibility and impact of the research undertaken by my team. Typically we receive higher downloads and citations compared to non-OA articles. Also with OA we retain our copyright, allowing others to build upon our work. In addition, transformative agreements are supportive and cover APCs including gold OA publishing, making our articles freely and permanently accessible to everyone immediately after publication. 

Can you describe any noticeable impact your OA publication has had, such as increased visibility, citations, or engagement with your work? 

We have experienced increased citations, a broader audience reach where our work is also accessed by researchers, policymakers, and practitioners leading to diverse engagement and collaborations. Ultimately this leads to greater societal impact of our work that could inform policy decisions, and further drive innovation. 

Can you share a moment when you realised the value of making your research freely available to access around the world? 

There has been several moments when unexpected emails from people around the world who have been impacted by our work read on an OA platform. This includes policymakers who have cited our research and members of the public expressing gratitude for how the research can impact their life. It underscores the importance of OA in maximizing research impact and reach. 

What would you say to other researchers considering publishing OA through a TA? 

Take advantage of the opportunity to maximize your research impact. Important to check your eligibility for OA via your institution and understand the terms of costs, copyright retention, and licensing. It is also critical to validate the publisher offering OA and not get entangled with predatory journals or publishers. 

Editorial Board Members share their top tips for Early Career Researchers looking to progress in the world of academic publishing. 

We listen to what Dr Christopher Chini (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), Editorial Board Member of Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, has to say in the video below:

What advice would you give to an early career researcher? 

Dr Edgar Virguez (Duke university), Executive Editor of Environmental Research: Energy gives his insight on visibility, overcoming barriers and understanding the publishing process. Read more below:

“My advice for early career researchers who are interested in increasing their engagement in publications in the journal is: first, try to understand that this is a very big field and that it has different components. There is not one silver bullet or one way of doing things.
You can be engaged by being a reviewer, as somebody working directly with the journal, submitting manuscripts, judging manuscripts. Or engage in the different type of activities, for example at conferences, at visiting institutions, or even on the webpage.
So, my advice is to lose the fear that you have of engaging.
You can e-mail members of the editorial staff, you can e-mail members of editorial board, you can try to engage with people who have published in the journal and try to ask them for advice on how to navigate processes. 

The second, of course, is you’ll never learn how to do something completely, until you do it. So try to actually get away from the barriers that are preventing you, and try to engage in the process as early as you can in your career, of course with the advice of mentors. 

Try to understand how the process works. Once you have had that manuscript and it’s been reviewed, you’ll understand how the process works, the timings and the best practises. Sometimes you’ll get very good reviews, and sometimes reviews are not very comprehensive, so you’ll learn throughout this process. 

Basically, learn by doing, and try to understand that you won’t get better unless you do this often and repeatedly.  

And if you’re planning for a career in academia, know that publishing is part of our language, part of what we do in in our careers. You get better and better at this stage, and you don’t have to be a master to start, you can be an amateur and will learn, and start to understand the process.”