ACS Publications recently announced Professor Wonyong Choi, of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of the new journal ACS ES&T Engineering. Part of the Environmental Science & Technology family of journals, ACS ES&T Engineering will publish experimental and theoretical research in the interdisciplinary areas of environmental technology, engineering, and chemistry. […]
ACS Publications recently announced Professor Wonyong Choi, of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of the new journal ACS ES&T Engineering.
Part of the Environmental Science & Technology family of journals, ACS ES&T Engineering will publish experimental and theoretical research in the interdisciplinary areas of environmental technology, engineering, and chemistry. It will open for submissions later in 2020.
Professor Choi is currently head of the division of environmental science & engineering at POSTECH in Korea and previously served as an editor for the Journal of Hazardous Materials from 2008-2017 and as an associate editor for Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) since 2017.
I spoke with Professor Choi to learn more about his plans for the journal.
What is the focus of your research?
My research is mainly focused on solar energy conversion and utilization for environmental and energy applications. Solar energy technology should provide a key solution to sustainable development and a cleaner world, and progress is being accelerated as material science and technology rapidly advances. Environmental nanomaterials for solar energy utilization and environmental chemistry are combined in my research. Traditional remediation technologies are focused on the efficient removal of pollutants in environmental media. And now, people are asking for more and better solutions. Wastes and wastewaters are being recognized as new resources. The recovery of valuable elements, substances, and energy from wastes and wastewaters, as well as the treatment processes that do not depend on massive consumption of fossil fuel energy, are urgently needed for sustainable development. Solar energy may have an answer.
Why are you excited to be the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of ACS ES&T Engineering?
As environmental problems and issues grow, diverse groups of researchers become interested in them and are approaching them to provide solutions. ACS Publications is right to respond to this broadening scope of environmental research, and I am excited to contribute to the discussion as Editor-in-Chief of this new journal. Also, as the first Korean who has been selected as Editor-in-Chief of an ACS journal so far, I am pleased that ACS Publications is seeking more geographic diversity in its editorial appointments.
What makes ACS ES&T Engineering a unique new journal?
I am a researcher who may not represent traditional environmental engineers. Therefore, my Editor-in-Chief appointment sends a message that the academic backgrounds of environmental engineers are being diversified.
I want to broaden the scope of the journal beyond the traditional environmental engineering area but also to maintain the core environmental engineering identity. As Editor-in-Chief, keeping a balance should be important. In addition, the editorial team of the journal will emphasize the importance of engineering systems, not just engineering technologies, since we do not want to advance technologies absent the system.
What are your aims for ACS ES&T Engineering?
I aim to include not only the core environmental engineering area but also emerging and interdisciplinary areas that are critically needed to solve new and non-traditional environmental problems. I want this high-quality journal to be a top venue where the global community of environmental engineers chooses to publish their work.
Who should submit their work to and read ACS ES&T Engineering?
Any researchers who are interested in contributing their specialty knowledge and tools for solving diverse environmental problems are welcome to read and publish in the journal. The journal will introduce a range of environmental issues and the engineering solutions being sought and will update as more advances are made.
What types of research are you looking forward to publishing in the future?
The global community is paying more and more attention to environmental problems because of the evident global impacts such as climate change, water shortage, air quality, and ubiquitous and persistent micropollutants and microplastics. In response, the environmental research field is rapidly expanding to, and merging with, other disciplines.
The journal will cover all the important issues in environmental technology and engineering and will serve as a primary source where people seek cutting-edge knowledge and engineering solutions for environmental issues of today and tomorrow.
