The focus of this Special Issue is the application of systems thinking to complex environmental problems in the development and implementation of transformational, sustainable solutions that address root causes. Submit your manuscript by November 5, 2025.
Complex environmental problems, such as climate change, water scarcity, eutrophication, invasive species, and emerging contaminants, are shaped by tightly coupled physical and social systems. These issues are marked by complexity, interconnectivity, and the need for solutions that go beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.
This new joint special issue in Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T Letters) will focus on innovative systems thinking approaches that unravel the complexity of environmental problems and identify root causes. The journals are seeking the latest research that advances our understanding of coupled human-natural systems and supports the development of transformative and sustainable solutions.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Characterization of the dynamics of coupled physical-social systems
- Identification of key drivers and feedbacks in environmental challenges
- Design of interventions that are sustainable, scalable, and resilient
Submissions should:
- Apply systems thinking to gain new insights into the structure, behavior, and evolution of complex environmental issues, or/and
- Use systems approaches to design and evaluate transformative strategies with broad environmental and societal benefits.
Submit your manuscript by November 5, 2025.
Organizing Editors
Prof. Qiong Zhang, Associate Editor, ES&T
University of South Florida, United States
Prof. Guangtao Fu, Guest Editor
University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Prof. Sai Liang, Guest Editor
Guangdong University of Technology, P.R. China
Prof. WeiWei Mo, Guest Editor
University of New Hampshire, United States
Submission Information
We welcome submissions for this Special Issue through November 5, 2025. For more information on submission requirements, please visit each journal's Author Guidelines page:
Accepted manuscripts for consideration in this Special Issue will include all manuscript types available in ES&T and ES&T Letters. Papers accepted for publication for this Special Issue will be available ASAP (as soon as publishable) online. After all submissions have been published, they will then be compiled online on a dedicated landing page to form the Special Issue. Manuscripts submitted for consideration will undergo the full rigorous peer review process expected from ACS journals.
Open Access: There are diverse open access options for publications in American Chemical Society journals. Please visit our Open Science Resource Center for more information.
How to Submit
- Log in to the ACS Publishing Center.
- Select the "Journals" tab.
- Choose either ES&T or ES&T Letters.
- Click "Submit."
- Select your manuscript type, and, under "Special Issue Selection," choose “From Silos to Interconnected Systems:Tackling Complex Environmental Problems Holistically."
If you have any general questions regarding submission to this Special Issue, please contact the managing editor (managing.editor@est.acs.org).
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