Professor Patricia Forbes, of the University of Pretoria, will lead the journal starting on July 1, 2025.
The Publications Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS Publications) is pleased to announce that Professor Patricia Forbes, of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, has been appointed as Editor-in-Chief of ACS Earth and Space Chemistry.
ACS Earth and Space Chemistry is a monthly journal that advances interdisciplinary application of chemistry to natural materials and processes in Earth's interior, surface, and atmosphere, and in space. Professor Forbes will officially assume the role of Editor-in-Chief on July 1, 2025, succeeding Professor Joel Blum, who has led the journal since its launch in 2016. She will work to consolidate the journal’s impact and growth, building on the success of her predecessor.
“I am pleased to see that ACS Publications has selected Professor Forbes as the next Editor of ACS Earth and Space Chemistry,” said Professor Blum. “She brings a broad research expertise to the journal leadership position and is an experienced scientific editor. I am confident that Professor Forbes will be a good steward of the journal and will keep it moving along its current positive trajectory.”
Professor Forbes holds the Rand Water Chemistry Research Chair in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pretoria, where she’s taught since 2009. She previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the South African Journal of Chemistry and is a member of the Editorial Boards for several journals.
“My appointment as Editor-in-Chief of ACS Earth and Space Chemistry is a great honor and I am excited for the opportunity to work with the editorial team and ACS publishing staff to take this prestigious journal to even greater heights,” said Professor Forbes. “As ACS Earth and Space Chemistry approaches its tenth anniversary since inception, it is clear that it is well established within the library of environmental chemistry journals, and I aim to boost its current upward trajectory further.”
Professor Forbes earned her MSc. degree in Applied Science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pretoria. Her research focuses on analytical chemistry involving the development of novel sampling and analytical methods for environmental pollutants.
“We’re delighted to welcome Professor Forbes and look forward to working with her to continue to elevate ACS Earth and Space Chemistry,” said ACS Publications Senior Vice President and Chief Publishing Officer Sarah Tegen, Ph.D. “With her strong background and expansive accomplishments as an editor and researcher, she is deeply qualified to guide the journal on the next chapter of its journey.”
If you are a reporter who would like to write about this announcement, please reach out to the ACS Newsroom: newsroom@acs.org.
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